CCRC in a country other than the USA?

[ShokWaveRider]

I was wondering if anyone had considered a CCRC (Independent Living) in a Country other than the USA.

I am going to start researching and see if it is even an option. If anyone here has investigated this, I think it would be great to share with our community.

I hope this is the correct forum to put this in, however it is not really intended for the early stages of ER but the latter. Mods please move it to the correct area if it is not. It is healthcare related though.

 

[HenryD]

I've only done very cursory research on CCRC in Costa Rica. Not cheap by Central American standards, but a fraction of the US. There are relatively few choices right now but expect more as the majority US & Canadian retirees currently there age up. I'm hoping we're 20+ years out from needing care.

Our second choice is the UK, where I still have citizenship. I saw that when my grandfather went into care there that services in Scotland seemed significantly better than England. If Scotland is out of the UK by then I'm hoping I'll qualify for a passport based on ancestry.

 

[GhostofTomJoad]

I've only done very cursory research on CCRC in Costa Rica. Not cheap by Central American standards, but a fraction of the US. There are relatively few choices right now but expect more as the majority US & Canadian retirees currently there age up. I'm hoping we're 20+ years out from needing care.

Our second choice is the UK, where I still have citizenship. I saw that when my grandfather went into care there that services in Scotland seemed significantly better than England. If Scotland is out of the UK by then I'm hoping I'll qualify for a passport based on ancestry.

__________________
I was thinking along the same lines. I have Irish citizenship. I wonder what might be available over there? Irish citizenship allows you to live in Northern Ireland, too. I've spent time in both. Euro in Ireland, Pounds in the North.

If the one who originally asked the question is lucky, they might obtain citizenship by descent. Ireland and Poland are two I know who offer it. But since covid, Ireland has fallen down on the job. They just don't seem to care to facilitate it. And when I renew my passport in 2024, I MUST do it online. That very fact sucks big hard ones.

CCRC in another country? Canada has their own single-payer system, but what I hear is that it just gets worse and worse, every year.

 

[Alan]

There are plenty of both private and subsidized CCRC communities in the UK though I haven’t researched costs or compared them to the USA. In the small town we live in are several, and my sister’s MIL has lived in one here, subsidized, for the last 7 years or so and loves it - short walk to the Main Street for shops and market, similar distance walk to the doctors’ offices and pharmacy.

To be subsidized you have to have a pretty low net worth so it is not something I hope we would ever qualify for but there are plenty of private options.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

If the one who originally asked the question is lucky, they might obtain citizenship by descent.

I have 4 Citizenships (US, UK, Canada & Malta), DW has 2 (US & Canada). I am sure I could get her into the UK after almost 40 years of marriage.

Healthcare access and quality would be our main concern followed by agreeable weather. I am a little concerned about the UK & Canada Healthcare System viability, a little not hugely concerned. doctors not accepting new patients and long waits for specialists being the major issues. We have family in both, so the concern is not simply anecdotal.

I was thinking about Mexico as their healthcare for the most part is very highly rated in any of the areas we would consider. I think Asia is too far from the USA and Canada for us.

 

[gattara]

Several years ago I read an article about Americans staying in these types of places in Mexico and it stuck in my mind as an option. I can't remember where I read about this, though my usual reading sites are NPR and NY Times. I do remember the experiences were positive, and it made me go "hmmmm ... perhaps worth considering."

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I was wondering if anyone had considered Mexico?

 

[tmm99]

I read that some Japanese retirees go to the Phillipines and get nursing care, assisted living, etc due to low cost. Obviously the Philippines is close to Japan (although it is still a 4-hour flight). A lot of Phillipinos work in Japan as caregivers.

 

[kevink]

This is something we looked into fairly extensively during our five years as expats in Mexico, and it's definitely what we'd choose if either/both of us needs such care down the road. We keep in touch with friends there who've either transitioned to such facilities themselves or put their spouses in one (e.g. because of dementia onset or injury requiring care beyond what can be provided at home). It is a booming business in all of the major places expats gather down there - probably close to 20 facilities at Lake Chapala alone, a like number in San Miguel de Allende, several in Puerto Vallarta - just to name places we've spent extended time.

Here's an article that gives a sense of some of the options:

https://www.retireinlakechapala.net/post/assisted-living-and-retirement-homes-lake-chapala

Forgot to mention: figure ~$1200-1500 a month for regular (i.e. not memory care) assisted living. @ Lake Chapala near-perfect year-round climate with highs 70-85 and lows in the 50's and 60's year-round with a dry (October-June) and rainy season. Lower costs aside a huge part of the draw is being in a culture that values and respects old people.


Big negative: no Medicare coverage.

 

[Sunset]

I have 4 Citizenships (US, UK, Canada & Malta), DW has 2 (US & Canada). I am sure I could get her into the UK after almost 40 years of marriage.

Healthcare access and quality would be our main concern followed by agreeable weather. ....

I think by the time you need to be in a CCRC, that the weather doesn't matter too much.
During bad days (rain/snow) one can simply stay inside.

If you can go for 10 miles walks each day, why would one want to be in a retirement home ?