Care for elderly people in thailand

suzanne4, RN · May 10, 2005

The Thais usually stay with their families, that is the culture, You find three to even five generations living in the same home............

For the Farangs (foreigners), many actally also try to stay in their homes and have private duty nurses around the clock...........cost is very cheap to do that in Thailand. There are some newer hotels that are offering assisted-care type programs, but LTC facilites as we know of the title in Europe or the US are not usually found. There are a few of the larger hospitals in the BKK area that have LTC wings for farangs, but not on a routine basis.

I have lived in Thailand for a number of years, if you need more info, send me a pm.

pbmarx · May 10, 2005

hello suzanne,

thank you for your message.

You are right: The principal form of LTC in Thailand is informal care provided by the family.

But the rapid growth in Thailand's ageing population, along with socio-economic changes, have led to an increase in the number of family units unable or unwilling to care for their older members. However, while the number of older persons who need formal long-term care services is increasing, neither the existing institutional care nor home/community care are adequate to support informal family care or provide acceptable care for those who cannot stay in the community, particularly among low-income families. Nevertheless there are some residental and nursing homes for old people: 20 residental homes under the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare, 7 residental homes, organized by non-governmental organizations, in seven provinces, Bangkok, Prathumthani, Samutprakarn, Sakolnakorn, Saraburi, Chonburi and Angthong. As there have been no registrations or state records of nursing homes in Thailand, it is difficult to know the exact number of such homes providing care for older persons. From data currently collected by the Department of Social Welfare, there are some 10 nursing homes (providing a total of approximately 500 beds) that provide care and rehabilitation for frail elderly people whose families can afford to pay. Another trend in care provided to older persons that has emerged during the years since the 1997 economic crisis in Thailand is hospital-based care. Pressurized by the downturn of the economy after the crisis, more than 400 private hospitals were struggling for survival. Care for frail or chronically ill elderly people therefore became additional service that the private hospitals offered to the middle and high-classes, in order to increase their revenues, by turning their acute illness wards into facilities for long-stay care. 2001, there were over 50 private hospitals in Thailand providing hospital-based care for older persons.

"Older persons should live with their families and in their communities with a reasonable quality of life", so the Second National Long-Term Plan for Older Persons (2002-21). But the need for institutional long-term care for older persons in Thailand arises. I only know the above mentioned data. Now I'm interested in some inside information, e.g. I've heard that in a nursing home in Phuket one nurse is resonsible for 20 old people.

Maybe you can give me some general information about the social/cultural status of nurses in Thailand. I think they are still seen as the helping hand of the doctors. Do nurses in Thailand work with the same standards and concepts of care as in Europe and U.S.? And so on.

Thank you! I post this message also in the forum.

Jörg

The Thais usually stay with their families, that is the culture, You find three to even five generations living in the same home............
For the Farangs (foreigners), many actally also try to stay in their homes and have private duty nurses around the clock...........cost is very cheap to do that in Thailand. There are some newer hotels that are offering assisted-care type programs, but LTC facilites as we know of the title in Europe or the US are not usually found. There are a few of the larger hospitals in the BKK area that have LTC wings for farangs, but not on a routine basis.
I have lived in Thailand for a number of years, if you need more info, send me a pm.

suzanne4, RN · May 11, 2005

I answered your pm...................

Pegleg · Jan 24, 2006

Dear Suzanne or Jorg,

Hi! I'm a foreign resident of Thailand, and am doing some research for overseas friends of the family regarding retirement/long term care/nursing home care that is available in Thailand. While searching the internet, I spotted this thread.

So far I've found out that there are some fairly new Board of Investment sponsored projects for foreigners that offer assisted living arrangements in places like Chiang Mai or Jomtien, with 24 medical care on-call. But I've had a hard time finding out about other possible arrangements for older foreigners, such as nursing homes or private in- home nursing arrangements. Have contacted the big Bangkok hospitals, but all they offer is short-term (1-2 month) stays for patients of the hospital.

Please, if possible, could either of you post some direction of where I should look for nursing home or in-home nursing for older foreigners retired in Thailand? Or can you email me any information that you may have?

Many thanks for any help, Peg

suzanne4, RN · Jan 24, 2006

There are several hospitals in the BAngkok area that have LTC type care or you can easily have rounf the clock RNs in home for the patient, which may be the easier thing to do. Also depends on the area where you are located, and does the patient speak any English or Thai? You can send me a pm if you do not want to post here.

Private duty pay is around $12 to $15 per ****, which is twelve hours long in the home.

There are also some hotels that have actually started long-term programs but I need more specifics form you as to what to recommend. Such as what type of care that the paitent actually needs, etc. What type of medical issues does the patient have, etc.

Pegleg · Jan 25, 2006

Many thanks Suzanne! I'll send you a pm about regarding my research to date, within the next day or two.

Best regards, Peg

Pegleg · Feb 6, 2006

Hi Suzanne,

Have you received my pm yet?

Cheers! Peg

suzanne4, RN · Feb 6, 2006

I received you r pm, but I thought that you were going to send more information.

I had a list of places that were being set up about 18 months ago, will have to try and track it down. There was a big push at that time for these types of places. But if the person has any money at all, their best bet is to stay in their own home, if they have one there, and use private duty round the clock RNs for their care. Beleive it or not, it will be the most cost effective way to go. I can give you a better breakdown of costs, if you need it.

Pegleg · Feb 6, 2006

Hi again! I guess I thought I'd answered all your questions in the pm? I.e., the couple speak only English. They live in the US, but would like to retre in Thailand (but haven't picked a specific place.) They don't have any specific medical needs now, but 10-20 years down the line may need some form of assisted care as they age. As a favor to their son, I'm researching what is available. Please let me know if you have any other questions, and I'll try to answer them...

Again, really appreciate any help. Peg

suzanne4, RN · Feb 6, 2006

Things change very quickly there, and what is available now, may not be available then. Again, best bet is for them to stay in their own place with private duty nursing care. That will actually be the most cost effective for them, and they will get the best of care. If they are English speaking only, the two best places would be either Bangkok area or Chiang Mai, the medical care that is available in those two areas will be the closest to what is in the US. All services are provided, not so in the other areas.

Pegleg · Feb 7, 2006

That sounds like good advice, many thanks. DH and I are likely to be here over the longer term, and their daughter-in-law is Thai, so if there is any change to their situation, we should be able to take care of it at that time. My guess is the market will develop more for retirees, and there will be more options later.

Thanks again for your thoughts! Peg