Retirement in Thailand. At what age does it become unworkable?

[giddyup]

 

I am 58. My dad lived to be 92. I watch him go about this business in the USA, dealing with banks, medical insurance, hospitals, IRS. He passed his drivers license test at 91. It was hard enough at 85 dealing with this stuff in his own country.  

My point is I am wondering with all the added problems of living in Thailand, and there are so many I can not list them here, at what age does it become impossible to deal with all of this in Thailand? I could not imagine being 85 and standing in line at immigration and not understanding what this weeks new problem is? Or being told something that is incorrect that stresses you out. Or being made to jump through paperwork red tape hoops at 85 to get your "visa" or driver license.

Or a simple bank problem that requires you to go to the bank in person only to find the person who speak English is on vacation.

Or dealing with condo ownership over 20 years in Thailand, especially if the building is not being kept up.

Any people on this forum in their 80's? just wondering how you do it? do you hire people to run around for you? How are you treated at immigration? 

 

I see many retired couples (no Thai wife) running around, so I know you are out there.

 

nobody wants to be 60+ years old and have to report every 90 days and crap like that. Why I want to get citizenship before I'm a pensioner.

 

People in their 80's could do it probably, depending on health. Not many come at that age so they should have had many years to learn the language, unless they live somewhere like Pattaya. If they did live somewhere like that, they could hire a 'nurse;.

 

When my father dies, I'm thinking of taking my mother over here to look after her. If she dies first, my father, 78, wants to come over here to live and find a new wife! 

 

I know a few guys in their mid/late  60s who, although grumpy, still have most their faculties and can handle immigration, driving tests etc.

 

 

Ten minutes of your time every 90 days, not really that hard is it?
 

Edited August 1, 2014 by giddyup

[Neeranam]

 

 

I am 58. My dad lived to be 92. I watch him go about this business in the USA, dealing with banks, medical insurance, hospitals, IRS. He passed his drivers license test at 91. It was hard enough at 85 dealing with this stuff in his own country.  

My point is I am wondering with all the added problems of living in Thailand, and there are so many I can not list them here, at what age does it become impossible to deal with all of this in Thailand? I could not imagine being 85 and standing in line at immigration and not understanding what this weeks new problem is? Or being told something that is incorrect that stresses you out. Or being made to jump through paperwork red tape hoops at 85 to get your "visa" or driver license.

Or a simple bank problem that requires you to go to the bank in person only to find the person who speak English is on vacation.

Or dealing with condo ownership over 20 years in Thailand, especially if the building is not being kept up.

Any people on this forum in their 80's? just wondering how you do it? do you hire people to run around for you? How are you treated at immigration? 

 

I see many retired couples (no Thai wife) running around, so I know you are out there.

 

nobody wants to be 60+ years old and have to report every 90 days and crap like that. Why I want to get citizenship before I'm a pensioner.

 

People in their 80's could do it probably, depending on health. Not many come at that age so they should have had many years to learn the language, unless they live somewhere like Pattaya. If they did live somewhere like that, they could hire a 'nurse;.

 

When my father dies, I'm thinking of taking my mother over here to look after her. If she dies first, my father, 78, wants to come over here to live and find a new wife! 

 

I know a few guys in their mid/late  60s who, although grumpy, still have most their faculties and can handle immigration, driving tests etc.

 

 

Ten minutes of your time every 90 days, not really that hard is it?
 

 

It would be when I a grumpy 70 year old!

 

I'd want to to do green bowling when I'm old and the only place I've seen is the Polo club which would cost me 2 million baht+ to join. I could do it free in Scotland.

 

Come to Thailand young and go back to your own country when you're old.

[umbanda]

I am 70. Very happy here...with only one concern. I do not speak Thai, and I am not learning well. To find a Thai English speaker it is a mission impossible...and to convince my Thai wife to learn English seems the same. Without the help of a "translator" life in Thailand it is not easy at any age.

[slipperylobster]

. Teens are playing the knockout game. They will find an old person called a target. Once spotted they will punch them so hard in the face that it knocks them out.

 

 

 

Here it is almost the same.  Except it's girls...and the game is called Knock-Up. They get an old guy to knock them up, and then you end up supporting the kid until he is `18.

[giddyup]

I am 70. Very happy here...with only one concern. I do not speak Thai, and I am not learning well. To find a Thai English speaker it is a mission impossible...and to convince my Thai wife to learn English seems the same. Without the help of a "translator" life in Thailand it is not easy at any age.

I'm older than you and I haven't had any real problems. My Thai partner speaks reasonable English so she translates when I need it. If I was running a business here it might be a tad more difficult.

[giddyup]

 

. Teens are playing the knockout game. They will find an old person called a target. Once spotted they will punch them so hard in the face that it knocks them out.

 

 

 

Here it is almost the same.  Except it's girls...and the game is called Knock-Up. They get an old guy to knock them up, and then you end up supporting the kid until he is `18.

 

So, it's only the old guys that "knock them up" and support the kid until 18? What happens when the young guys do the same thing, piss off home and wash their hands of it?

 

[Neeranam]

I am 70. Very happy here...with only one concern. I do not speak Thai, and I am not learning well. To find a Thai English speaker it is a mission impossible...and to convince my Thai wife to learn English seems the same. Without the help of a "translator" life in Thailand it is not easy at any age.

 

So, you need a translator to speak to your wife?

[rgs2001uk]

 

I am 70. Very happy here...with only one concern. I do not speak Thai, and I am not learning well. To find a Thai English speaker it is a mission impossible...and to convince my Thai wife to learn English seems the same. Without the help of a "translator" life in Thailand it is not easy at any age.

 

So, you need a translator to speak to your wife?

 

 

Purple or yellow coloured notes usually resolve most language issues.

[opalred]

 i have been retired here 12yrs forget my age   but if you get a good younger thai wife she keeps you active and young   she does every thing for me   

wouldnt get that in frangland and always over there worry about paying bills    medical have been lucky but with yellow book i think can get cheap treatment

at public hosptal? cheeerss

[robblok]

 i have been retired here 12yrs forget my age   but if you get a good younger thai wife she keeps you active and young   she does every thing for me   

wouldnt get that in frangland and always over there worry about paying bills    medical have been lucky but with yellow book i think can get cheap treatment

at public hosptal? cheeerss

You wish.. its not true. (about the yellow book)

[Beetlejuice]

First and the number one priority in my opinion are to ensure that you have properly prepared yourself financially for your old age in Thailand. Meaning, pensions or insurance policies, ample savings, whatever, allowing for inflation, low bank exchange and interest rates, health care and any emergencies that may occur. Otherwise, no one will take interest or want to know. You would be considered as a burden and become a financial liability to yourself, your friends and Thai family members around you. As harsh as this may sound these are the facts. In Thailand, money number one.

Number two priority is to choose carefully your partners here, do not become involved with those who may try to cheat you later on if you become old and infirm. For example, marrying or living with women that are young enough to be your daughter or granddaughter, as these women will only be in the relationship for money. There will always be exceptions to the rule, but on the whole it`s all about the money and the elderly can be prime victims later on. In other words, take precautions and trust no one.

Then if in old age you become frail, you will find that Immigration is not without compassion. Providing you meet all the imposed Immigration requirements and with a bona-fife doctors report a third party can do all the business for you at Immigration. As for renewal of British passports, the rules as they stand at the moment do allow for third parties to apply, renew and collect passports on your behalf at Bangkok. Also in Thailand if you can afford a carer or part time help, this is no problem, plus there are old peoples homes that seem to be springing up all over Thailand.

But remember the quality of life in Thailand during old age is only going to be as good as what you can afford.

[surfinglife]

The day after you die.....

[HerbalEd]

 

Clear it up for me then, how exactly should I interpret "bar girls making an old guy think age is just a number and steal all his money and leave him with nothing"?

 

 

You error in assuming that's ALWAYS the case. How about nice and respectful bar girls who make an older guy happy ... and vice versa ... and no body gets ripped off and everyone is respected and treated fairly. That does happen.

 

If you get ripped off that's because you're naive and don't know how to successfully play the game, and/or you bring it upon yourself because you treat ladies badly. 

[opalred]

i was ripped of by two massage girls before found perfect one and100% would wipe my bum when to old to do so
if you were in frangland shove you away out of sight and let die in own sh.t

[dotpoom]

I suggest just trying to live in the present and enjoy the now. It has been my experience that those who focus on problems occurring usually get what they focus on. Deal with tomorrow when it comes. and keep positive. Once heard a man say ...."It's presumptuous of any man to assume God has another day in store for him".

[mesquite]

End-of-life just isn't good anywhere.  Even seen those investigative reports in the US about abuse of elders in assisted living facilities and nursing homes?  Terrible.

 

I personally believe the Thais look down upon us farangs, but I also believe young people in my home country, the US, look down on us old geezers.  A lot of us have money, and those young ones are broke.  So in either country, we will get no respect.  We're just people consuming oxygen.

 

Enjoy yourself as long as you can.  The end won't be pretty.  The best you can hope for is to die of a silent heart attack at night before becoming debilitated.

 

Don't spend much time working to accumulate money.  Here's what one guy did after spending his whole life accumulating millions.  What was the point?

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/robert-w-wilson-leaps-to-his-death-at-87-hedge-fund-founder-and-philanthropist/2013/12/25/79120cb4-6d7f-11e3-b405-7e360f7e9fd2_story.html

[JSixpack]

I knew an old Swiss guy in PTY who made it to around 92 before cancer got him. He worked out at a hotel gym and drove himself in his car until the last year or so. During that time he hired a lovely, intelligent Thai caretaker, very classy lady with whom to spend his last days, to drive him and take care of him. (Wonder where she went!) She wasn't cheap, but he could afford it; and I guess figured correctly that his last suit wouldn't need any pockets.

 

Have to admire the fight he put up. Cheerful to the end despite the obvious and painful ravages of time & disease. And he chose it here, not Switzerland.

[Cat ji]

The question, as such, "At what age", cannot be answered specifically. Obviously [?] depends on individual health and attitude and perceptions.
Health is obvious enough, the only factor not mentioned is that it can change drastically in the space of a year. That would present you with issues no matter where you live.

Also, like some people mentioned, some people prefer the situation in Thailand instead of with shtty-minded, bigoted people in USA and Europe.

[arjunadawn]

This is actually a very thoughtful post; thank you. I am in my 50's so looking forward through the wisdom of these responses is quite useful. Thank you, everyone.

[JSixpack]

nobody wants to be 60+ years old and have to report every 90 days and crap like that.

For the 90 days, just pay the fine once a year or if possible do it by mail. I think you can also send someone to do it for you? If you can't afford the fine, you can't afford to be here anyway.

[thailiketoo]

I knew a Thai lady caretaker (10 years) of a Japanese woman.  A lot of Japanese live here in retirement (at least I knew quite a few).  The Japanese lady died and the Thai woman was beyond herself with grief.  She mourned for a year.  The Japanese woman had left her some inheritance so the Thai woman was OK for a few years.  But what impressed me was the close bond the two had formed in 10 years.   I did the same thing for my mother in the States and it cost a small fortune for 24/7 care at home for a bedridden person. 

[Cat ji]

First and the number one priority in my opinion are to ensure that you have properly prepared yourself financially for your old age in Thailand. Meaning, pensions or insurance policies, ample savings, whatever, allowing for inflation, low bank exchange and interest rates, health care and any emergencies that may occur. Otherwise, no one will take interest or want to know. You would be considered as a burden and become a financial liability to yourself, your friends and Thai family members around you. As harsh as this may sound these are the facts.

 

Those are the facts everywhere, unless you live in a socialist / "welfare state".

 

But remember the quality of life in Thailand during old age is only going to be as good as what you can afford.

 

Same everywhere. Also depends what you think is quality of life.  For me, it means being able to walk in the street without being mugged. It means not having the risk of being murdered in your home by intruders, with burlgaries and intruders being so common. 

Edited August 1, 2014 by Cat ji

[JSixpack]

If gramps is smart enough yes.. else he gets fleeced (and so does junior)

Reminds me of this frail Methuselah I saw come into a go-go bar via a walker. He truly seemed on death's doorstep. After the girls helped him get seated, they took away his walker--and refused to return it until he'd bought them all a few rounds as they lavished "sexy man" on him and messed with him.

 

But he wasn't complainin'. :)

[tonytigerbkk]

A cutlet of ant cheese if you don't mind my good man (or woman).

[Suradit69]

My point is I am wondering with all the added problems of living in Thailand,

 

 

Sounds like you're overwhelmed at 58.

 

Can't say I've encountered anything that's so problematical here and that would be so easy in "my own country" where I haven't lived in over 40 years. The last time I visited the US people still had to stand in queues from time to time, deal with bank, merchants, repairmen, et al who were a pain in the butt and, most depressingly, as they aged most seemed to be put in warehouses for the dying (aka "assisted living"). No thanks.

 

 

 "We couldn't do this if we lived in Thailand. Whoopee."

 

 

[Beetlejuice]

 

First and the number one priority in my opinion are to ensure that you have properly prepared yourself financially for your old age in Thailand. Meaning, pensions or insurance policies, ample savings, whatever, allowing for inflation, low bank exchange and interest rates, health care and any emergencies that may occur. Otherwise, no one will take interest or want to know. You would be considered as a burden and become a financial liability to yourself, your friends and Thai family members around you. As harsh as this may sound these are the facts.

 

Those are the facts everywhere, unless you live in a socialist / "welfare state".

 

But remember the quality of life in Thailand during old age is only going to be as good as what you can afford.

 

Same everywhere. Also depends what you think is quality of life.  For me, it means being able to walk in the street without being mugged. It means not having the risk of being murdered in your home by intruders, with burlgaries and intruders being so common. 

 

In my home country, I am entitled to free national health care if I become ill, I am entitled to social security if I do not have savings and enough funds to live on, I am entitled to free care in an old peoples nursing home if I become old, and too ill and frail to be cared for by family members, plus entitled to free home care assistance if I became too frail to fully cope by myself at home and so on.

 

Even if this type of care in my home country is considered as third rate, not ideal and at much higher risks of being a victim of crime, it is still there if need be as a safety net, even if the quality of life is crap.. In Thailand none of that is available to me, as a glorified tourist living here year by year at the grace of the Thai authorities I am entitled to sweet nuff all unless able to pay for all my requirements myself, including having the imposed requirement of funds each year in order to appease the Immigration department for my retirement visa extension application.

 

Sorry, but no, being old as a foreigner living in Thailand cannot be equated with that of being old in my own country for reasons I have mentioned above.

 

[benj005]

obvious I guess but people age at very different rates. Some 40 y o seem to think they are 'old', some 70 y o think they are 'young'
 
Apart from general health, which most of us can help along with diet, less booze, no fags and more exercise , a lot of how old you are/feel  is between your ears.
 
But if the op is nervous about bureaucracy 'stress' etc for the future, at just 58, then maybe better to be within his comfort zone and be less stressed about all the differences associated with life in Thailand.
 
Just a thought..

"No fags?"

Are u talking about gay men?

[farang2002]

 

 

Would 70's be OK?  I go to immigration 20 minutes per year; hand them my papers and 1900 baht and don't listen to rumors on rumor mongering web sites. 
 
I go to the bank and know the manager and his assistant both of whom speak English, no problems. 
 
I go to the doctor 4 times a year; he and all the staff at the department I go to speak English no problems. 
 
I don't drive a car much.  I drive my motor scooter because its fun, fast and I can carry the groceries but the doctor says I should walk an hour a day so don't drive too much. 
 
I have a network of Thai women who help me do anything I like and have known them for many years. 
 
A lot of stress this year.  I went to Bangkok to get a new passport during the coup but no problems.  I went back to pick up my passport with no problems.  I took my Thai wife with me and told her to pay attention because she will be doing the next one when I'm in my 80's. 

70 is still quite young. I mean if i see my dad only a few more years and he is sharp of mind and strong of body.. 80.. that is a different story.

70 is quite young? Maybe if you're 99 years old. The average life span of a man is 74 years. If I live past 75 then I will be fortunate or unfortunate. Depends what life will be like in 30-40 years from now.

 

I suspect if you're sitting around beer bars all day, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes, you'd be lucky to live beyond 74.  Most healthy people I know do not smoke at all and if they drink anything, it's limited to a couple a day.  

[thailiketoo]

 

In my home country, I am entitled to free national health care if I become ill, I am entitled to social security if I do not have savings and enough funds to live on, I am entitled to free care in an old peoples nursing home if I become old, and too ill and frail to be cared for by family members, plus entitled to free home care assistance if I became too frail to fully cope by myself at home and so on.

 

Even if this type of care in my home country is considered as third rate, not ideal and at much higher risks of being a victim of crime, it is still there if need be as a safety net, even if the quality of life is crap.. In Thailand none of that is available to me, as a glorified tourist living here year by year at the grace of the Thai authorities I am entitled to sweet nuff all unless able to pay for all my requirements myself, including having the imposed requirement of funds each year in order to appease the Immigration department for my retirement visa extension application.

 

Sorry, but no, being old as a foreigner living in Thailand cannot be equated with that of being old in my own country for reasons I have mentioned above.

 

The family of a bedridden nursing home patient who died after being bitten by hundreds of fire ants will get almost $2 million under a settlement with the home's owner.

Georgia-based Mariner Health Care, the nation's third largest long-term health care company, agreed this week to pay Earl Dean Griffith's widow and children $1.875 million, a week before their lawsuit was to be tried.

 

SARASOTA, Fla. — An 87-year-old nursing home patient with Alzheimer's disease died a day after she was bitten 1,625 times by ants as she lay in her bed, authorities said Thursday.

 

Two elderly patients were found covered with ants, with ant trails leading from the floor to their beds. One died five days after the attack, the other 13 months later. Both facilities had been treated by pest control services in the previous days.

 

I ain't going back

 

Remember those old films about the American Indians burying cowboys up to the neck and pouring honey on them and the ants got em? 
 

Edited August 1, 2014 by thailiketoo

[wwest5829]

Would 70's be OK?  I go to immigration 20 minutes per year; hand them my papers and 1900 baht and don't listen to rumors on rumor mongering web sites. 
 
I go to the bank and know the manager and his assistant both of whom speak English, no problems. 
 
I go to the doctor 4 times a year; he and all the staff at the department I go to speak English no problems. 
 
I don't drive a car much.  I drive my motor scooter because its fun, fast and I can carry the groceries but the doctor says I should walk an hour a day so don't drive too much. 
 
I have a network of Thai women who help me do anything I like and have known them for many years. 
 
A lot of stress this year.  I went to Bangkok to get a new passport during the coup but no problems.  I went back to pick up my passport with no problems.  I took my Thai wife with me and told her to pay attention because she will be doing the next one when I'm in my 80's. 

70 is still quite young. I mean if i see my dad only a few more years and he is sharp of mind and strong of body.. 80.. that is a different story.

70 is quite young? Maybe if you're 99 years old. The average life span of a man is 74 years. If I live past 75 then I will be fortunate or unfortunate. Depends what life will be like in 30-40 years from now.

Ha! Yes, 70 is young because I turned 67 earlier this year. Old is maybe 20 years older than me. It's a moving target and I think I'll be staying younger living here in Thailand being looked after by a traditionally raised Thai wife.