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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Western retirees in Thailand
— motives, experiences, wellbeing, assimilation and future needs | | Author(s) | Robert W Howard |
| Journal title | Ageing and Society, vol 28, part 2, February 2008 |
| Pages | pp 145-163 |
| Source | http://www.journals.cambridge.org/ASO |
| Keywords | Migration ; Retired persons ; Well being ; Adjustment ; Social surveys ; Thailand. |
| Annotation | Westerners increasingly retire outside their home countries, and some venture to developing nations. A growing number go to Thailand, usually after working there or after many tourist visits. The present study examined currently and formerly resident Western retirees in Thailand, with a focus on their reasons for migrating to Thailand, their well-being and perceived assimilation, the reason why some leave, and their long-term welfare needs. The principal data source was an online survey of 152 current and former retirees in Thailand. The major reported motives were low living costs, a warm climate, to escape a disliked home nation, liking the Thai lifestyle and culture, and the availability of attractive sexual partners. Most survey respondents had a Thai spouse or live-in partner. The move apparently works out well for most, at least initially. They report positive well-being and feel assimilated, but most live with visa insecurity and their assimilation may be partly illusory, as many reported socialising mainly with other foreigners. The major long-term concerns of Western retired men in Thailand are their health-care and welfare needs, income problems, increasingly negative local reactions to the influx of Westerners, and the possibility of visa cancellation that would enforce a move elsewhere. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-080204001 A |
| Classmark | TN: BB6: D:F:5HH: DR: 3F: 7HG |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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