Elderly Father Thinking Of Retiring Here - Home Health Care Service Available In Phuket?

[bradykang]

Hi we just moved here after having visited with my family a few years ago. As I am an only child this makes it hard to be close to my father who is 85. He loves the climate here and would consider living here but in England he has a part time home health care aide who helps him several times a week. is there any service like that here?

[soundman]

More specific to Phuket area.

Moved to that forum.

[Mario2008]

Nice to see you are devoted to your father. But there are a few considerations, first is your fathers health. How will you pay for the health care, not just the nurse but all doctors and hospital costs in the future?

Consider what your father leaves behind, how will your father make new friends here etc?

If your father is mentally deteriorating he will also be less able to communicate with people, especially in a country where people don't speak English.

[LivinginKata]

I doubt whether there is any official gov service, but no doubt you could talk to nurses at a local hospital and organise some sort of home care.

Please note that you will have to pay all health care costs at private care rates.

[keeniau96]

My friend Woody (Woody's Sandwich Shops, 4 of them on Phuket) has his elderly father here who I estimate is around 85 years old. The gent has had several different health problems and has been well served by the hospitals here. He is ambulatory and has a full-time helper. Not a huge amount of money involved, far less than anything in USA or Europe. PM me if you would like further info and probably can set up contact with Woody.

[barka]

Having lived here in phuket a long time,i ask you to think very seriously about this move.

i am a pensioner from the uk and i still have to go back to the uk for FREE medical treatment,even though the treatment here is 1st class it is also expensive especially when you have never had to worry about it.

your father may be in reasonable healthy at the moment and i hope he stays that way,but the hot weather and humidity over a period of time may not suit him . getting a carer should not be to difficult, best of luck with your choice.

[MisterMan]

Actually there is a company service in Phuket. http://www.phuketbabysitting.com/

Welcome to Phuket Bradykang and I think there are a lot senior citizens here. (mostly men for some reason.. ) although I don't think your father will find any croquet clubs.

As everyone said the hospitals here are not as cheap as one might think but they do take insurance.

and nearly everything else is cheaper here, including meds..(not at the hospital though).

There is a company that has just branched out from babysitting to home health care. My friend used them for her father and so far it is working out quite well. They have contact with different degrees of health care workers, including full nursers down to experienced health care helpers. Their prices are reasonable from what she said as her father is on a pension from Europe. Thai's are natural caretakers as it is expected they will take care of their parents.

He pretty much needs A LOT of help if you know what I mean. He had a Thai "Wife" but she left for upcountry. Your father could always try that route first, a Thai girlfriend, but in the end it may be more expensive..haha

Will try to see if my friend can post her experience...and any feedback she may have as she is a member here.

Good luck!!!

[LivinLOS]

Also to be considered, if mobility becomes an issue, 90 day reporting, annual visa hassle, etc etc..

That cant be easy for the very elderly.

[F1fanatic]

Have to agree with previous posters, why would someone of 85 consider moving here - away from everything and, pretty much, everyone they know??

Must also add that whilst the health care here is pretty good generally (as long as you can afford it), its not first class. My (ex) husband became ill and it was seriously mis-diagnosed despite months of treatment at one of the hospitals here. When he went back to the UK to get treatment for (the diagnosed) problem, they discovered the error but it was too late.....

[Sheryl]

There is no organized home health care such as you had in the UK but people can and do arrange on their own to hire in help for this sort of thing. Either live in or daily. You'll have to pay out of pocket for that though as you also will for all his health care and your own. In your case, I strongly urge that you buy insurance. (Your father is too old, no one will give him a policy).

The help you will get, will not speak English or at most speak just a few words, which is something to consider.

[woodyleonhard]

My 85-year-old father has lived here in Patong, next door to me, for the past four years.

When he moved here, my brothers and sisters were ready to send him to a nursing home. He'd had two hypoglycemic attacks, both of which nearly killed him, simply because there was nobody around to monitor his behavior. Now he has round-the-clock help, people who care about him, a gorgeous place to live, fabulous weather, incredibly good food - all for a fraction of what it would've cost to stick him in a 3 x 4 meter nursing home room.

Moving here is the best thing my Dad ever did. Seriously. Taking care of him isn't easy - it's very time consuming, and emotionally draining at times. He's slowly getting less ambulatory, and having orientation problems. But there is absolutely no question in my mind that moving here added ten years - ten good years - to his life.

If you're worried about medical expenses, try adding up how much long term care costs in the US or Europe. Even with Medicare, even with trips to the hospital here, Dad's far better off financially living out here. And for quality of life, there's no comparison at all.

Granted, it would've been different if Dad had a large group of friends that he left "back home," but the people he knew best have already passed away. Here in Patong, he has constant interaction with people - which is very important mentally. He also has excellent medical care: Bangkok Phuket Hospital sends a nurse once a month to run tests and consult with his doctors at the hospital.

He's to the point where we need to hire a physical therapist. That isn't difficult. Finding a good, reliable live-in caretaker isn't easy, but we pay well, and the caretaker's part of the family. The hardest part was finding food that he likes: he won't eat rice or noodles, and is suspicious of anything that looks vaguely Asian. But with a little ingenuity and a lot of take-away, it can be done.

I guess the most important difference is in the way Thai people treat the elderly. In the US, Dad would be safely stuck in a mediocre-but-expensive nursing home with people who don't care very much: out of sight, out of mind, with an occasional visit from one of the kids. Thailand is completely different. Out here, he's involved with everything we do, and the Thais who work with us treat him with great respect. Every year, several of our friends come over for Songkran, help Dad out to the porch, and gently pour water over his head. Remarkable and touching.

[woodyleonhard]

Also to be considered, if mobility becomes an issue, 90 day reporting, annual visa hassle, etc etc..

That cant be easy for the very elderly.

BTW - that isn't a problem, at least in Patong. Dad's visa is tied to mine - he's a "dependent" and there's never been a problem, probably because I have a Type B visa and Work Permit. For 90 day reporting, I just take my passport along with his to the office in Patong or Phuket Town, show them that Dad's 85 years old, and everything's handled easily.

All of the Thais I have to deal with "officially" treat Dad with great consideration. They understand and respect that it's hard taking care of an older parent.

[woodyleonhard]

Having lived here in phuket a long time,i ask you to think very seriously about this move.

i am a pensioner from the uk and i still have to go back to the uk for FREE medical treatment,even though the treatment here is 1st class it is also expensive especially when you have never had to worry about it.

your father may be in reasonable healthy at the moment and i hope he stays that way,but the hot weather and humidity over a period of time may not suit him . getting a carer should not be to difficult, best of luck with your choice.

Also worth noting... I only know the situation in the US; UK may be completely different.

Our family's plan for Dad is pretty simple. Long-term care in the US costs a fortune, and it isn't covered by insurance, so there's absolutely no question that he's better off financially staying here.

Acute care (in the hospital) is another story. Dad qualifies for Medicare, and he has AARP insurance, so he's basically covered for medical care in the US - but not in Thailand. If he gets to the point where it looks like he's going to need extended care inside the hospital, we'll get him on a plane to the States.

A friend of mine came down with prostate cancer, and did exactly that: went back to the US long enough to get treated, and into remission. He's back in Phuket now.

The plan isn't foolproof, but it's a good balance between quality of life (infinitely better in Phuket) and expense.

[Benjie]

Also to be considered, if mobility becomes an issue, 90 day reporting, annual visa hassle, etc etc..

That cant be easy for the very elderly.

Just get someone else to do the 90 day reporting, I know people very well who have been here for 8 years+ and have never done it once.

[LivinLOS]

Also to be considered, if mobility becomes an issue, 90 day reporting, annual visa hassle, etc etc..

That cant be easy for the very elderly.

BTW - that isn't a problem, at least in Patong. Dad's visa is tied to mine - he's a "dependent" and there's never been a problem, probably because I have a Type B visa and Work Permit. For 90 day reporting, I just take my passport along with his to the office in Patong or Phuket Town, show them that Dad's 85 years old, and everything's handled easily.

All of the Thais I have to deal with "officially" treat Dad with great consideration. They understand and respect that it's hard taking care of an older parent.

So they dont demand he does 90 day reporting ?? They let it be done on his behalf ??

Nice to know..

[LivinLOS]

Also to be considered, if mobility becomes an issue, 90 day reporting, annual visa hassle, etc etc..

That cant be easy for the very elderly.

Just get someone else to do the 90 day reporting, I know people very well who have been here for 8 years+ and have never done it once.

As I havent been on those kind of non imms (finally starting it now) and always done 90 day visa runs..

You mean I dont have to go and report, with my passport.. I can just send someone ?? I thought the whole hassle was to put face to passport photo and make you go there.

[LivinginKata]

You mean I dont have to go and report, with my passport.. I can just send someone ?? I thought the whole hassle was to put face to passport photo and make you go there.

Most of the application forms at Immigration can be submitted by an agent.

[LivinLOS]

Learn something new every day..

That ones a real bonus tho.

[woodyleonhard]

BTW - that isn't a problem, at least in Patong. Dad's visa is tied to mine - he's a "dependent" and there's never been a problem, probably because I have a Type B visa and Work Permit. For 90 day reporting, I just take my passport along with his to the office in Patong or Phuket Town, show them that Dad's 85 years old, and everything's handled easily.

All of the Thais I have to deal with "officially" treat Dad with great consideration. They understand and respect that it's hard taking care of an older parent.

So they dont demand he does 90 day reporting ?? They let it be done on his behalf ??

Nice to know..

That's correct. I take my passport and his, and they process both, no problem. The first time I had to point out that my Dad's 85 years old, and after that, there was never any question.

[viciouskitty74]

And in the event you might need someone who does speak english or any other languages for your dad as a companion when you are busy with work or life.

Bring along a aupair, or request for one in Thailand.

I am sure, they(aupairs) will be appreciative, if you can provide some roof over their head, a course of instructions in thai/english/whatever language, some pocket money and eventually a good referral for them to stay/move elsewhere to serve. The experiences of working with the elderly in a country using a different language medium, is valuable for such persons that wants such works in the future.

[phuketrex]

I've recently been told i probably have Motor Neuron Disease (ALS) so I'm need of serious help. I can get a live-in nurse from Patong Hospital for 8000 baht/month but for now have found a decent carer outside although it might not be long before I need 2.

[viciouskitty74]

I've recently been told i probably have Motor Neuron Disease (ALS) so I'm need of serious help. I can get a live-in nurse from Patong Hospital for 8000 baht/month but for now have found a decent carer outside although it might not be long before I need 2.

How about, you take on carers in return for sponsorships & some allowances for them to get certifications? Student nurses & healthcare workers wannabes?

They can possibly live in your place, study in the day and take on night duties after your regular carer has gone home. You need to sleep too, so these students probably is needed only for early portions of the evenings.

Try aupairs too. They can stay with you for a short time, till you 'recover' some semblance of previous lifestyle/motor skills.