Germany 'exporting' old and sick to foreign care homes

Pensioners are being sent to care homes in eastern Europe and Asia in an austerity move dismissed as 'inhumane deportation'

From:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/26/german-elderly-foreign-care-homes

Excerpt:

Researchers found an estimated 7,146 German pensioners living in retirement homes in Hungary in 2011. More than 3,000 had been sent to homes in the Czech Republic, and there were more than 600 in Slovakia. There are also unknown numbers in Spain, Greece and Ukraine. Thailand and the Philippines are also attracting increasing numbers.

They can export me to Thailand any time they want - the sooner the better

I agree. If you require an old age home, this would be the place to be.

In Chiang Mai at Immigration I once saw a bunch of older foriegners

being led by what looked like Thai care givers.

Later I saw on their shirts it was a Alzheimer care home.

called Baan Kamlangchay

I also saw these older articles online

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/05/05/headlines/headlines_30072282.php

http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/099/success.shtml

Retirement homes in SE Asia

The funny thing about that article is the focus towards the end about what the neighbours and friends think and what they are saying behind the wife's back. It has to have been written by someone who has spent a lot or all of their life in Asia.

Going back to the OP: NEWSPAPERS: Can not trust them; have to really read what they write and then still be skeptical.

The title of The Guardian's article implies the German govt is " 'exporting' old and sick to foreign care homes". But if you read the article carefully, you will find that is not really what they are saying, though they definitely do imply that. Never the less, Germany, as a country, is not involved.

I have quoted below a single sentence from the article that really sums up what is happening but what they buried in the article because it is not "sexy news".

"The lack of legislation has not stopped retired people or their families from opting for foreign homes if their pensions could cover the costs."

If I was charge I would want to get rid of the buggers as well. However, I have a cunning plan, why not send them for care in Greece, then pay the Greeks for the care solving the greecy finanical problems and the german old unwanted ones problems all in one go.

Move over merkel here I come..............

I agree. If you require an old age home, this would be the place to be.

Really? Have you seen some of these residences? There are minimal occupational and physical therapy services available. Thailand does not have a cadre of geriatric care specialists. Unless one has a personal advocate to monitor care, one may end up sitting in a soiled diaper in deplorable conditions. Do you know what the treatment facilities are for those with age related dementia? To the best of my knowledge, unless one can pay a small fortune, there are none.

In any case I doubt Germany is sending its elderly to Asia. More likely to former east bloc locations in the Eu such as Poland and Hungary where German language services are available.

My snide remark of course would be to mention Pattaya is a place for ........... but, it's christmas time and I am overcome with goodwill.

in Germany the people have to pay a certain amount of money together with the health insurance to the respective health insurance companies.These companies are responsible to pay for the care of people who need assistance.Up to now payment was only made if the assistance was given in Germany.Now these companies have started to make payments also in some countries abroad.Nothing to do with the government.I very much doubt that payments will be made in the near future in thailand because the amount of money paid out depends on the amount of assistance necessary this needs relevant documents from medical personel and the companies know how easy these documents can be obtained here

I would be all for it, if the pensioners had the choice of what country, or staying in Germany.

Also should have someone to over see the care being given.

They can export me to Thailand any time they want - the sooner the better

I wonder if it's possible to go back to UK, act ill and infirm and request as a money saving exercise to the British Government, they send me to be cared for in Thailand.......all expenses paid?

They can export me to Thailand any time they want - the sooner the better

I wonder if it's possible to go back to UK, act ill and infirm and request as a money saving exercise to the British Government, they send me to be cared for in Thailand.......all expenses paid?

Probably would be wise to hide your assets first.

They can export me to Thailand any time they want - the sooner the better

I wonder if it's possible to go back to UK, act ill and infirm and request as a money saving exercise to the British Government, they send me to be cared for in Thailand.......all expenses paid?

Probably would be wise to hide your assets first.

"Probably would be wise to hide your assets first" (posted by Kennedy not me)

They're already hidden!

Maybe they might even pay the required 800,000

With appropriate safeguards and proper inspections, seems like a good idea to me.

In case anyone hadn't noticed, the west is broke. One of the reasons is that people are living too long and there aren't enough young people working to pay for their care.

Makes sense to send people dependent on the state to countries where care costs are lower.

Should the person's relatives disagree, they are of course entitled to pay the difference in cost to keep them close to home.

Like another poster, I'll be happy to be sent to live in Thailand if I get that decrepit.

Once between GF's I was in the hospital for a week. The hospital hired two women to watch me as I wanted a private room. They were paid 300 baht per shift. Real nice ladies. One wanted to come home with me and said 300 per day was fine for everything; cooking, laundry housecleaning and so on.... Oh, 7 day week no problem.

There's care homes here ?

There's care homes here ?

I believe there is at least one in Pattaya for farangs.

There's care homes here ?

I believe there is at least one in Pattaya for farangs.

And one or two in Chiang Mai. I think they are a Thai Visa sponsor. Isn't most of Chiang Mai a like a rest home though?

I agree. If you require an old age home, this would be the place to be.

Really? Have you seen some of these residences?

Several people that I know have ended up in the one in Chiang Mai and did not have anything but praise for the place.

A couple of my family members are in care homes here in Germany and I speak from experience when I say the care here would be difficult to match anywhere in the world.

Personally I think the title: Germany 'exporting' old and sick to foreign care homes is The Guardian unworthy.

It's like they're talking about "exporting" articles, cattle or machinery.

We're talking HUMAN BEINGS here! The forefathers and -mothers of ourselves, our children and grandchildren! People we love but don't care for anymore.

In my (European) neighbourhood is an elderly home where they live and sleep in their own small apartments; I seldom notice children and grandchildren visit them

A respected British quality newspaper simply can't write about the sick and elderly, from ANY country, like they just did.

It's tendentious and not very British nor stylish.

I think that for the fast greying countries in Europe it would be a blessing that other Eastern European-, Asian- and Southern European countries open caring homes for the elderly.

It works in both directions: cheaper for the patients and governments in the greying countries and a blessing for the economies of the other countries.

The costs and salaries, caring for elderly in most countries are unbeareable and staff is hard to get or are overworked.

It would be a splendid idea to invest in luxury elderly villages in Thailand!

Edited December 28, 201213 yr by LaoPo

It is ehtically good if family members(me) are exported as well.

I agree. If you require an old age home, this would be the place to be.

Really? Have you seen some of these residences? There are minimal occupational and physical therapy services available. Thailand does not have a cadre of geriatric care specialists. Unless one has a personal advocate to monitor care, one may end up sitting in a soiled diaper in deplorable conditions. Do you know what the treatment facilities are for those with age related dementia? To the best of my knowledge, unless one can pay a small fortune, there are none.

In any case I doubt Germany is sending its elderly to Asia. More likely to former east bloc locations in the Eu such as Poland and Hungary where German language services are available.

I agree. Thailand is not set up for this, people are not trained, etc.

I also don't believe all of the article. I don't think Germany is 'deporting' or exporting -- whatever the phrase was...its elderly to Asia. Philippines would be an option as the people are VERY well trained in these matters. Philippines has excellent training programs and the nurses are very caring. Czech Republic and Slovakia? I don't believe that. The Czechs and Slovaks don't do this kind of work. I lived in the Czech Republic for years and spent a great deal of time in Slovakia. Czech people don't clean their own toilets, they get Ukrainians to do it. I can't imagine them ever cleaning German peoples behinds. Spain does have these places. I have seen them. The people who do the dirty work are North Africans.

I agree. Thailand is not set up for this, people are not trained, etc.

I also don't believe all of the article. I don't think Germany is 'deporting' or exporting -- whatever the phrase was...its elderly to Asia. Philippines would be an option as the people are VERY well trained in these matters. Philippines has excellent training programs and the nurses are very caring. Czech Republic and Slovakia? I don't believe that. The Czechs and Slovaks don't do this kind of work. I lived in the Czech Republic for years and spent a great deal of time in Slovakia. Czech people don't clean their own toilets, they get Ukrainians to do it. I can't imagine them ever cleaning German peoples behinds. Spain does have these places. I have seen them. The people who do the dirty work are North Africans.

This is what was written:

"Researchers found an estimated 7,146 German pensioners living in retirement homes in Hungary in 2011. More than 3,000 had been sent to homes in the Czech Republic, and there were more than 600 in Slovakia. There are also unknown numbers in Spain, Greece and Ukraine. Thailand and the Philippines are also attracting increasing numbers."

from this link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/26/german-elderly-foreign-care-homes

I don't see why Thailand couldn't be a good country to take care for the (western) elderly; they're already doing so in several places, so I understood.

Edited December 28, 201213 yr by LaoPo

I'm affraid this picture was not taken in Thailand the lady would have been much younger (sorry sir could hardly resist )

The idea of developing aged care facilities for foreigners in Thailand is potentially a good one if planned and managed competently.

This article may be of interest & I also talk about the idea in this submission

Edited December 28, 201213 yr by chiangmaibruce

The idea of developing aged care facilities for foreigners in Thailand is potentially a good one if planned and managed competently.

This article may be of interest & I also talk about the idea in this submission

1 your first link doesn't work

2 long article in the 2nd link but I might give it a read when I've a bit more time but above all, feel like reading...

3 I assume you are Australian; so why not focus on Indonesia?

4 I think developing "villages" for the elderly in Thailand could be a booming investment opportunity if done properly and managed by a combination of Thai/Farang.

A lot of elderly Scandinavians, Germans, Dutch, British and others would welcome a retirement place in Thailand.

A couple of my family members are in care homes here in Germany and I speak from experience when I say the care here would be difficult to match anywhere in the world.

The guys who are touting Thailand as an alternative to Germany probably have healthy old single males in mind, not older persons with illnesses. And for obvious reasons.

1 your first link doesn't work

Sorry, not sure what happened there, try this:

http://www.austchamthailand.com/atcc/asp/general.asp?MenuItemID=356&SponsorID=735

It's the first article in the 'Finance and Investment' section

3 I assume you are Australian; so why not focus on Indonesia?

Am not familiar with the situation in Indonesia, and I would imagine that the slightly closer geographical proximity (which I assume you are alluding to) is unlikely to be a significant factor.