Re: Why Retire in Malaysia?
 

Having had to look after my elderly father for 8 years in the UK support and caring for the elderly leaves a lot to be desired. District nurses may give you moral support for 10 mins if they can spare the time and soon discharge the caring as soon as the carer can manage the care in their opinion. Hospice care is similar, the hospice nurse will call for about ten minutes take notes from the carer and leave and this visits can vary from 2 to 3 weeks in between visits.
At least in the Far East you can get a helper to assist the carer and very often they are quite dedicated and are very caring over a period of time.
In the West you do get up some support but it will be very difficult to get help and the cost of getting a carer for half and hour and is trustworthy can be very expensive and difficult.
Still from my personal experience I would not like to be in the West when I am elderly.
We all have to make plans that suit us in our old age accordingly.

Re: Why Retire in Malaysia?
 

That is something I hadn't even thought of.... Great food for thought that one !

Re: Why Retire in Malaysia?
 

I have given the thought of where I would prefer to grow old a great deal of thought, but have failed to come to any conclusion. I understand your view, but the problem is none of us can predict the future, and so planning becomes difficult.

From the point of view of mobility, I would prefer to be in the West. Mobility scooters are a great way of getting around, and ramps and automatic doors etc. make them easier to use. It would be impossible to use one in Malaysia. Likewise, if I were in a wheelchair, I imagine it would be easier in the West.

I have no experience of hospices in the UK, but at least they exist. I do not know if there are any in Malaysia. I believe end-of-life care is left to the family. I assume an experienced carer could be employed by the family if needed, and presumably pain-killing medicines are available to ease suffering.

I do have experience of District Nurses in the UK, and although they have a heavy workload, I believe they do their best to care for their patients. Again, I don't think there is an equivalent service in Malaysia. Perhaps it is possible to arrange for a trained nurse to visit the patient's home, but this will presumably be charged for.

Also to be considered is that benefits are often payable in the UK to disabled people, which is not the case in Malaysia. Nor is the UK pension increased in line with inflation.

I think the level of care an elderly patient in the UK would receive depends on where they live. In "retirement towns" such as Bournemouth, Worthing, etc. I think the health services would be better geared towards taking care of the elderly, compared to say, inner city Birmingham.

For me, it's not a clear-cut decision as to whether care of the elderly is better in the West or in SE Asia, or that it is better to be elderly in one or the other.

Re: Why Retire in Malaysia?
 

Hi there, I just came back last week after spending almost a week visiting sister who was initially diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I was told to come sooner than later so off I went. I must say I was quite impressed with the medical care provided but not so much the nursing care especially in public hospitals. I was told that the nursing care isn't any better in private hospitals except you get your own room and I suppose the top medical/surgical doctors and/or specialists. Anyway, this is what I had observed that you need a family member who is willing to take time off to nurse the sick family member. Asked my niece about employing someone to take care of her mum/my sister. I was informed that to do that you need to outlay a huge sum to employ a maid from Indonesia/Philippines/Cambodia/etc. I thought that with so many illegal immigrants hanging around Malaysia waiting for an opportunity to hightail to Oz, it would not be too hard to find someone willing to earn some pocket money.

So, for those of you who intend to stay here for the long haul, are you prepared to employ a maid from o/s?