Getting Older.. Who Is Gonna Look After You ?

[rubberduck]

Hello, I have a relative in Thai in his early sixties, and I do worry about his health in the coming decade. I doubt if his 20yo (...) girlfriend will be clever enough and take the responsibility to look after him when things 'getting serious'. And things can get quite complicated for a non-professional to handle and avoid things getting worse, imagine getting serious physical complications, alzheimer, insurance issues, visa issues, lack of funds for special medical needs etc. But he is like ignoring the idea and just doesn't care.

Did you in some way prepare for possibly loosing control when getting older e.g. by having a good social network, a caring wife who won't leave you when you need her most, can you move to an elderly care home and having the funds for this, or will you eventually go back to your home country to receive care, or just ignoring it and see how far you get ?

When there is no caring partner what are actually the options in Thailand ?

[Johnniey]

Hopefully my children and grandchildren.

[harryfrompattaya]

When there is no caring partner what are actually the options in Thailand ? After he had his fun and GF has his money he will try to freeload off you or me I hate old white men I guess it will be you

[rgs2001uk]

When there is no caring partner what are actually the options in Thailand ? After he had his fun and GF has his money he will try to freeload off you or me I hate old white men I guess it will be you

When there is no caring partner what are actually the options in Thailand ?

Nursing home, care centre, call it what you like, another is to hire his own caregiver, and I dont mean some unqualified Issan field worker.

[Gweiloman]

When there is no caring partner what are actually the options in Thailand ? After he had his fun and GF has his money he will try to freeload off you or me I hate old white men I guess it will be you

When there is no caring partner what are actually the options in Thailand ?

Nursing home, care centre, call it what you like, another is to hire his own caregiver, and I dont mean some unqualified Issan field worker.

I don't recall every reading such a venomous post from you. If i remember correctly, you've always posted very sensible and reasonable replies and comments.

There is nothing wrong in receiving care from an unqualified Isaan field worker. My own mother was unqualified, yet she gave me all the care that I could have ever wanted and probably more than I deserved.

[soi41]

Well not something to worry about for most, as according to another active thread here, it seems like a majority of posters here are are in their mid-thirties!!

[asiasurfer]

Don't worry at all!. Eventually, his gf's Mum will take care of him...

[pattayadingo]

When I am past it, Thailand will not have to look after me, I'll get on a plane and go back to my house and be cared for there, or be sent to some care home full of other old gits.

On the other hand, I could arrange a much shorter flight...... off a balcony, then there would only be a bit of mopping up to do

[onionluke]

I still have an empire to consolidate

[Chittychangchang]

When i get old and past it, i'll reside at that large carehome city by the sea.

[JLCrab]

Gee and I was looking forward to his being inspired to write about "The Secrets of Getting Old in Thailand"

[krisb]

My children. Just as I will look after my parents.

[homeownership]

I intend to go out with a bang, preferbaly of the highest calibre I can get my hands on and put the pointy end in my mouth. Care homes are for pusssiess.

[Colabamumbai]

At 62 I would have saved more money, if I knew that I was going to live this long.

[Plastic Brontosaurus]

If the guy takes care of his gf and her family (at least her parents) with some luck they will take care of him later on. However if there's complications that require medical intervention (expensive operations etc.) and there's no money then he will be out of luck. Thailand is not a Western-style nanny state.

If it's likely there's not going to be enough money to take care of medical and care eventualities in future, it may be best best to research options of return to country of origin in due course. Assuming there are better options available there...

Edited April 3, 2013 by Plastic Brontosaurus

[kingstonkid]

Just like any other country the only person that you can count on to look after you is YOU. I am not a 30 well past that and have ensured by picking the right mate and looking after not only my finances but preparing her to look after hers and eventually ours that she will be able to assist me.

Financially remember that unless you can pass the Countries standards your solution will be to be sent back to where you came from.

Just as Thais should not have to have the government look after them in old age neither should we.

We should all be saving and preparing for that eventuality.

[Dave8237]

At 52, something I have given some thought to, I do have a home to return to in the UK, so I would think back to the UK. The age difference between, my wife and I is 12 years, she very caring, and stuck by me last year, in the UK when I had open heart surgery, Mitral valve repair. But you never know, what's around the corner, and life has it is up and downs.....ect ect

[Card]

I intend to go out with a bang, preferbaly of the highest calibre I can get my hands on and put the pointy end in my mouth. Care homes are for pusssiess.

Oh right. We'll wait and see when the time comes. Hitler was going to die fighting at the front until someone told him the Russians were banging on his bunker door.

Edited April 3, 2013 by Card

[Card]

Just like any other country the only person that you can count on to look after you is YOU. I am not a 30 well past that and have ensured by picking the right mate and looking after not only my finances but preparing her to look after hers and eventually ours that she will be able to assist me.

Financially remember that unless you can pass the Countries standards your solution will be to be sent back to where you came from.

Just as Thais should not have to have the government look after them in old age neither should we.

We should all be saving and preparing for that eventuality.

Very true, but having your mate look after you and looking after yourself is a tad contradictory.

[belg]

rich expats so tit seems,all have a home to go back to ... so what are you doing with that home ? renting ? no worries that the person who rents your house will stop paying.. in my home country, it is endemic, people who get into your house, never pay 1 baht of rent and the law protects THEM !!! takes you loads of money in court / lawyers and 2 years or more... that is why i sold mine in the first place, as i live here, have wife and kids ...

[nattydread]

I'll just become another condo jumper

[MiG16]

moving this to the health forum

[kiniyow]

Saving now for Hospital to take care of me since all the Married men I have known that depended on the wife to take care this Never happened.....

[lounger]

The problem would be alzheimers or similar then again money always helps. My mentor is a guy about 90 I saw coming out of a hotel lift supported by two young girls wearing black leather

[Acharn]

When there is no caring partner what are actually the options in Thailand ?

Same as in the U.S. Hope for some good samaritan to call the cops to pick up the body. Or, like the options in the American health care system:

1. Don't get sick.

2 If you do get sick, die quickly.

If there is no loving partner and you don't have Thai kids and grandkids, the answer is: Nobody.

[Acharn]

Saving now for Hospital to take care of me since all the Married men I have known that depended on the wife to take care this Never happened.....

Sorry to hear that. You know the wrong people. I know a bunch of retired U.S. Army guys who had Thai wives who took care of them to the end, but of course you need to have that money for the hospital for them to use in taking care of you.

[givenall]

I was born in one live and work in one and now retired in Thailand, this very common these days

What would be any different in home country. Getting old is a problem everyone need to be in control and plan for.

[NoshowJones]

Hopefully my children and grandchildren.

What else can ex Pats do? They can't get insurance over the age of sixty, younger ex Pats who have insurance will have to accept that their premiums will go up and up after they get to sixty. British OAPs get their annual pension increases stolen from them by a thieving British government. Me? if I have to, I will just go back to the UK and they can care for me. If I can't travel, I'll worry about that if the time comes.

[Sheryl]

This is an important consideration that an awful lot of expats in Thailand either fail to plan adequately for, or plan based on assumptions that do not pan out.

Those in relationships that are based on financial gain (fro the partner) are the most vulnerable. All sorts of bad things can and not infrequently do go down.

A combination of good financial planning and developing relationships that are based on genuine caring and commitment are the answer, unfortunately a fair number of people do neither, and it doesn't end well.

Long-term care options exist in Thailand but are limited in number. Hiring in help in the home is fine as long as there is someone reliable in charge to oversee it. If it is just the one elderly and/or disabled person, it can be a dangerous arrangement.

[Card]

The problem would be alzheimers or similar then again money always helps. My mentor is a guy about 90 I saw coming out of a hotel lift supported by two young girls wearing black leather

That's not Altzheimers, it's exhaustion.