What is life like in Thailand for very old expats?

[mania]

4 hours ago, gamini said:

 Medical services in Chiangmai are excellent and cheap, so we don't need health insurance.

 

[balo]

Sorry to break the bubble but it's all about money really , you need someone there by your side when youre too old , if it's a "hired" girlfriend or nurse doesn't matter, but you need a big enough  pension every month or else you will not be of much value for anyone in Thailand. 

 

Edited October 5, 2016 by balo

[akentryan]

I am probably what you consider very old. I will be 78 this month. My Thai wife of 23 years passed away last year. No children but my extended Thai family fell into one of two classes - the older group who are only interested in your money and the younger group who genuinely care about you and will look after you. I have several health issues but I do have health insurance from the USA that covers about 70% of my cost here including medicine. Anything major and I go to the USA where cost is zero. Just returned from having a Pacemaker replaced at a tidy little sum exceeding US$60,000. I now have a live-in 40-year old GF who takes excellent care of me. We went out to a neighborhood bar yesterday and had a few brews with the ladies. Never go out at night and never go to Walking Street, Soi 6 or the like. Thailand is heaven for some of us old folks but you have to have your act together. Consider what my options would be like living anywhere but Asia..

[1FinickyOne]

5 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

 

Yeah I get what you say but don't necessary agree, many places in Thailand where all of what you post are not like that.

 

I have to agree that my part of Thailand and the people that I know and meet, do not sound anything like much of what I read on Thai visa... 

[Henryford]

I will just join the Pattaya Flying Club. No one needs to take care of me.

[Gary A]

I had health insurance for a number of years here in Thailand. I chose that particular policy because it had a clause that said they would never cancel the policy because of age. What I failed to see was that they would price me out with outrageous premiums. After giving it a lot of thought and reading that their maximum payout was 1.25 million baht, I cancelled the policy. Not that I am wealthy but I could easily pay 1.25 million baht out of my nest egg. I cancelled the policy when I was 65 years old and am now 71 years old. I am well ahead of their game.

 

I had a stroke a couple of years ago. I went to a government hospital. I had an MRI and all sorts of tests that I had no idea what they were for, even a chest X Ray. I got to worrying that they were just inflating my bill because of all those tests. I had 20,000 baht in my wallet and feared that it would not be enough. I was pretty sure that I would have to find a bank. After three days I checked out and was given a bag full of drugs. On to the cashier. My total bill was 7,000 baht.

 

In the US, even with Medicare, I would have likely have had a heart attack after seeing my bill. I go to the local small hospital for a blood test and check up every three months. They supply drugs for three next months. My last bill totalled 550 baht. It does shoot almost an entire day, mostly because of waiting for the blood test results.

[hobobo]

On Wednesday, October 05, 2016 at 9:38 AM, boomerexpat said:

I imagine there are old Thais in the villages but that wasn't my question. 

 

I lived in Bangkok and spent time in Chiang Mai and Phuket. As I mentioned, I can't remember seeing any very old expats.

Yawn !

[Munchkinboss44]

14 hours ago, Docno said:

I don't get it. You mean he could pay for his op with 2 months' income (pension), and he can't make that happen?  

Yes he could but he has a crazy Thai women who says she is taking care of him but is fleecing all his money, Have tried to get her out the way but she came after me with a stick and attacked me. She is telling the hospital and police she is his wife which is totally untrue, he is to weak just lying in bed. Nothing anyone can do 

[DSJPC]

All of my expat friends in their 80's died here...the rest of us in their 70's are hanging on until our livers give out!

[jacko45k]

On 05/10/2016 at 3:34 AM, Tai777 said:

Tons of old Thais everywhere, don't know what country you're in OP

The question seemed to be about old expats!

Old age isn't great for anyone but little they can do about it.

It really is a matter of how their health is.

Males likely have a younger wife or partner who will take care of them, but the major concern will be the cost of medical treatment and whether they have the funds.

Mostly you won't see them out and about as likely they spend a lot of time at home. I have seen a few sad cases in hospitals, and a few infirmed at home, also some of good age who actually do quite well as physically they are capable and their health holds up, so it is a mixed bag,

[Gary A]

1 hour ago, hobobo said:

Yawn !

 

VERY old expats are not likely to be walking the streets or going bar hopping. They are more likely sitting on their porch swings or rocking chairs watching the world go by.

[balo]

My neighbor back home was 93 and ran up the stairs , he was fit like a fiddle.  If you are doing the right things in life you can enjoy very good health until the last days of your life.  

 

 

[mania]

5 hours ago, balo said:

My neighbor back home was 93 and ran up the stairs , he was fit like a fiddle.  If you are doing the right things in life you can enjoy very good health until the last days of your life.  

 

 

 

This is the truth of it & of course the genes you were given by your parents play a role....

 

But......I will add the air your neighbor is breathing back home & the water he is drinking, the foods he is eating also all play a role in his

fit as a fiddle health appearance. Most of these things you can as you say do the right things with , but some environmental things cannot be fixed

so easily.

Edited October 6, 2016 by mania

[Gary A]

I have seen some fitness freaks drop dead especially while jogging. I'm a firm believer in all things in moderation. I'd really hate to die from nothing. It may be in the genes but not all the time. I have a friend up here who is now 71 years old and he is much more fit than I am. Both his parents died when they were in their fifties. He does live his life to the fullest. He says that he never expected to live this long so why not enjoy life to the fullest.

[MaxiMaxi]

Untill healthy is no problem. Problem starts when you get sick.

My country provides free basic doctor, free hospitalization and free medicines when you have a patologic sickness.

Gov. Hospitals, which are 99%, specialist's consulting have a simbolic ticket payment (25% of a private full price consult).

All this is provided also for foreigners living permanently in the country with stay permit.

Big differencece here where all this is missing and we have to pay or have private health insurance.

Here the young people are the pension of olders but we have different way of life and mentality and older age can become a problem. I also keep a home back there in case of emergency return

[Grubster]

19 hours ago, MaxiMaxi said:

Untill healthy is no problem. Problem starts when you get sick.

My country provides free basic doctor, free hospitalization and free medicines when you have a patologic sickness.

Gov. Hospitals, which are 99%, specialist's consulting have a simbolic ticket payment (25% of a private full price consult).

All this is provided also for foreigners living permanently in the country with stay permit.

Big differencece here where all this is missing and we have to pay or have private health insurance.

Here the young people are the pension of olders but we have different way of life and mentality and older age can become a problem. I also keep a home back there in case of emergency return

I agree with all that, I also have a home on the other side, I am also signed up to live in a nice retirement home there, I will live there six months and here six months till I get immobile then its bye, bye Thailand.

[Gary A]

Years ago the county where I lived had an old age home. Most of the people who worked there were volunteers. Their family members stayed there. It was located in a huge old mansion on a farm that was donated to the county by a wealthy family with the stipulation that it be used for an old folks home. The county added a couple wings of rooms. There were a huge gardens and  livestock barns. The old folks were encouraged to get outside and they enjoyed working in the farm even if they were not actually productive. They just enjoyed the freedom of being able to go outside and wander around. Since there was always something to do for the old folks, they felt useful. 

 

THEN, the federal government got involved. The county home did not meet all the silly requirements and the home was eventually closed. There was a huge sterile for profit retirement home built. The old folks hated the place. No more going outside and no more freedom to keep themselves occupied. The federal government gets involved in things they have no business trying to control. I resent how the old folks are penned up and cared for by paid strangers who don't care whether the old folks are happy or not.

 

I plan on taking my chances right here in Thailand. Some people who have not planned for their retirement are probably better off going back to their home countries. When you get to the point that you can no longer take care of yourself, you need to have a monthly income and hopefully a nest egg to pay for your care. Yes, it is true that some people who have not prepared have miserable final years of their lives.

[geriatrickid]

Some people are delusional and fooling themselves.   Old people require advocates, guardians to  look out for them and to speak out on their behalf when they seek medical care or need to  make a  major purchase.  The reality in Thailand is that it sucks to be old if you do not have someone to   there for you. As soon as you become mobility impaired or incapacitated it is game over.  Look at the  sidewalks. It's impossible for anyone slightly impaired to get around. There are no community services for elderly farangs, save for  some charities, and who wants to be a charity case?

 

Old people are ignored  by the  health care system. Toss  them some pills and get them to go away. Misdiagnose, or mistreat and who will say anything? The elderly are vulnerable and easily exploited. Toss in dementia and bring a bag to haul off the bank account.

 

Sorry, but people who  do not have a social support system  that they have structured  and have funded,  will have  an unpleasant stay in their older years in Thailand.  Thai people don't care about some  old guy that is incontinent, nor will they take care of  the lady who has dementia.

 

 

[little mary sunshine]

29 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

Some people are delusional and fooling themselves.   Old people require advocates, guardians to  look out for them and to speak out on their behalf when they seek medical care or need to  make a  major purchase.  The reality in Thailand is that it sucks to be old if you do not have someone to   there for you. As soon as you become mobility impaired or incapacitated it is game over.  Look at the  sidewalks. It's impossible for anyone slightly impaired to get around. There are no community services for elderly farangs, save for  some charities, and who wants to be a charity case?

 

Old people are ignored  by the  health care system. Toss  them some pills and get them to go away. Misdiagnose, or mistreat and who will say anything? The elderly are vulnerable and easily exploited. Toss in dementia and bring a bag to haul off the bank account.

 

Sorry, but people who  do not have a social support system  that they have structured  and have funded,  will have  an unpleasant stay in their older years in Thailand.  Thai people don't care about some  old guy that is incontinent, nor will they take care of  the lady who has dementia.

 

 

 

All part of the planning process. Trusted Guardian, Limited

Power of Attorney for Medical Care.  Several care givers if

needed, limited, revocable,  Power of Attorney for payment

of bills.  Other issues to be addressed as needed.

[SaintLouisBlues]

On 10/5/2016 at 7:10 PM, laislica said:

 

If you have informed the UK authorities that you have left the UK (tax purposes etc), check into what you are required to do when moving back BEFORE you are allowed access to their NHS. If the receptionist at your doctors is aware that you have left, she will (is required to) remove you from the doctors patient list.

Since he said he's still paying UK taxes as the price of access to the NHS and is only ever away for 6 months at a time ...

Edited October 8, 2016 by SaintLouisBlues

[Bonobojt]

I'm only 25, I have to wait a long time before I retire, and god knows what the world will be like when I'm in my 60s or 70s, with all this global warming and wars happening, animal agriculture killing the planet, no fish in the oceans by 2050...I'd say you might be lucky to be old expats living in Thailand...I'm slightly jealous of all you expats, the ones that are happy and healthy that is..

Edited October 8, 2016 by Bonobojt

[Aussie69]

I'm only 25, I have to wait a long time before I retire, and god knows what the world will be like when I'm in my 60s or 70s, with all this global warming and wars happening, animal agriculture killing the planet, no fish in the oceans by 2050...I'd say you might be lucky to be old expats living in Thailand...I'm slightly jealous of all you expats, the ones that are happy and healthy that is..

Don't worry about all these hyped up future scenarios. As long as mankind has been organised into societies there has always been something to fear - that is how power/position is created and how money is made. Just enjoy your life to fullest, don't waste it accumulating things, spend it creating moments.

[Mekong Thunder]

On 05/10/2016 at 9:13 AM, Munchkinboss44 said:

Theres a farlang guy in the village fell and broke his hip, the hospital will not operate until he pays 100000 baht, so they took him back to his room where he lays in his bed, has a Thai girlfriend who just spends all his 55.000 baht per mnth pension and leaves him to rot in his bed. He has no medical insurance so is basically finished. Has made me think and I will be returning back to my country before its to late.

Why don't you get the British Embassy involved and help this poor guy retrieve his pension from this nasty bitch?It could be you after all!

[Mekong Thunder]

On 05/10/2016 at 9:55 AM, pgrahmm said:

 

I knew one man in poor health....If not housebound very close to it.....

 

He hired a live in nurse to care for him.....

 

It was not unusual for some of the nurses friends to stop by & visit.....Make birthdays & holidays important to the man fun....The Thai's are uniquely special that way....Filipinos too....

 

He has no one....But they didn't let him feel that way.....

Brought a lump to my throat,being so genuine and that humility and sense of kindness to their fellow man is truly lost in the West,I've lived in both countries and totally agree!

[boomerexpat]

On 10/5/2016 at 5:36 PM, Jeffkp said:

Most importantly, living in Thailand without health insurance is a fools game.

Problem is that health insurance can be very expensive after 70 and misty plans don't cover you after 75 anyway

[boomerexpat]

8 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

Some people are delusional and fooling themselves.   Old people require advocates, guardians to  look out for them and to speak out on their behalf when they seek medical care or need to  make a  major purchase.  The reality in Thailand is that it sucks to be old if you do not have someone to   there for you.

I would imagine that to be true. It can suck to be old old and frail anywhere but I imagine it is particularly hard in a country that old age care is based around family and you don't have the family

[boomerexpat]

On 10/6/2016 at 3:34 AM, Kwasaki said:

 

Yeah I get what you say but don't necessary agree, many places in Thailand where all of what you post are not like that.

What are the areas that you think would be good for a very old person? 

[boomerexpat]

On 10/6/2016 at 7:27 AM, akentryan said:

I have several health issues but I do have health insurance from the USA that covers about 70% of my cost here including medicine. Anything major and I go to the USA where cost is zero.

What kinds of insurance do you have from the states that covers 70 percent in Thailand?

[boomerexpat]

On 10/6/2016 at 11:00 AM, Gary A said:

I had health insurance for a number of years here in Thailand. I chose that particular policy because it had a clause that said they would never cancel the policy because of age. What I failed to see was that they would price me out with outrageous premiums. After giving it a lot of thought and reading that their maximum payout was 1.25 million baht, I cancelled the policy. Not that I am wealthy but I could easily pay 1.25 million baht out of my nest egg. I cancelled the policy when I was 65 years old and am now 71 years old. I am well ahead of their game.

 

I had a stroke a couple of years ago. I went to a government hospital. I had an MRI and all sorts of tests that I had no idea what they were for, even a chest X Ray. I got to worrying that they were just inflating my bill because of all those tests. I had 20,000 baht in my wallet and feared that it would not be enough. I was pretty sure that I would have to find a bank. After three days I checked out and was given a bag full of drugs. On to the cashier. My total bill was 7,000 baht.

 

In the US, even with Medicare, I would have likely have had a heart attack after seeing my bill. I go to the local small hospital for a blood test and check up every three months. They supply drugs for three next months. My last bill totalled 550 baht. It does shoot almost an entire day, mostly because of waiting for the blood test results.

Your experience with the healthcare is what I found when I saw the steep increases in premiums and limits on payout. I just couldn't see how it made sense after 70. Just bank the money you would pay and keep it reserved for emergencies. I have even seen some policies get as high as 10000 USD by late 70's.

[Kwasaki]

2 hours ago, boomerexpat said:

What are the areas that you think would be good for a very old person? 

 

Well my take is and l don't consider myself as many on here do as an expert but l guess out of the common south areas in a more rural environment within a loving Thai family.

I know it don't work for some OK but that's life sometimes ain't it, so far it's been good for me.