Retirement Thailand

 

Massage
A traditional Thai massage (usually in open parlors where you can clearly see inside through the windows) can work wonders for a couple of hundred baht and is available absolutely everywhere, Thai massage is far more vigorous than other types of oriental massage, wherethe masseuse just moves you skin around.

In Thai massage every muscle and joint is methodically manipulated for utmost stress relief. Aromatherapy is another popular relaxation technique and reflexology is a commonly practiced stress cure and each cost about the same as a massage or can often be combined. There are also many up market spa’s where a full days treatment is available for a very reasonable price.

Disabled People in Thailand
Disabled access in Thailand at least in the major tourist areas is considered reasonable, modern malls, offices, public buildings and attractions are pretty good in terms of access with ramps, elevators, wider doors and so on, buildings more than a few years old are a lot less disabled friendly. One of the main problems is the height of the kerb/sidewalks they are often considerably higher than the roads they will often have access ramps but they may be some distance apart. On the good side disabled people are not disrespected in Thailand, as with other aspects of life in Thailand people are very helpful unlike in the west they would not consider it a big deal to help a disabled person in some way as this kind of thing is considered ‘good karma‘ by Buddhists, any shopkeeper or café owner would bend over backwards to accommodate a disabled person that is just the way they are. Many sports and activities are available such as golf, tennis and the more extreme such as rock climbing. All in all despite some problems Thailand can be very viable for the disabled.

Bird Flu and SARS at this time seem to pose no viable threat to tourists.
HIV infection is rife in Thailand, as are other STD's especially among prostitutes in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Rabies is present, for those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.

Sea Urchins The spines break of at or near skin level, try to very gently pull them out you probably will not get them all but don’t worry the will disappear or work their own way out over some time, they are not poisonous.
Coral Cuts and Scratches, Coral cuts and scratches carry a high risk of infection. Any tiny fragments of coral should be removed from a scratch and antiseptic applied.
Jellyfish None of the dangerous species found in Thai waters but the stings can be unpleasant like a bee sting or a little worse, don’t attempt to remove it with your hands (it will just sting them) use water a towel or clothes to wide it away. Vinegar or your own urine will kill the pain immediately. Anaphalactic shock is possible but rare.

 

Health

 

If you have not traveled to Asia or Thailand before you may be under the impression that good quality hospitals and high standard of healthcare that you are used to at home are not readily available in Thailand. Well that could not be further from the truth, not only is the standard of private hospitals in Thailand very high, in many peoples opinion, it is better than in many western countries.

Foyer, Bumrungrad Hospital, often confused with a 5 star hotel

Large numbers of  medical tourists now travel to Thailand for minor, and major medical treatments, not just because of the low cost,compared to the west but also because there is no waiting list and the mostly western trained, medical staff can provide the high quality of treatment needed.

Private hospitals can be found in major towns and cities all over Thailand and in all the main destinations for expats retiring to Thailand. (Note an exception at this time is Hua Hin, which has only state hospitals) So if you suffer from an ongoing ailment or should be unfortunate enough to fall ill or be involved in an accident there are first class facilities on offer. It should also be noted that many Thai state hospitals can offer very good service for many conditions at amazingly low cost  it is best to ask the opinion of others that have used the services of the hospitals in your area. All these hospitals also offer quality dental treatment at amazingly low prices.

Dental
This can be covered on insurance with your general health policy or you may just want to pay as you go, it seems that all modern treatments are available including new procedures with lazars and so on, again the quality of training is very good and the prices much lower than the west. Many people travel to Thailand and include cosmetic or necessary treatment in their holiday so if your planning to move to LOS sometime soon you may want to put off that expensive dental check up back home.

Insurance
This should be taken out before you leave home although medical costs can be low in Thailand you should be aware that hospitals may want proof of payment such as an insurance card before starting treatment and also insurance covers you against illness before you leave home incase you have to cancel your trip.

Vaccinations World Health Organization guidelines
Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Thailand. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. Vaccination against typhoid is advised.

Malaria risk exists throughout the year in rural areas throughout the country, especially in forested and hilly areas and around the international borders. There is no risk in cities and the main tourist resorts, eg Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket and Samui. The malignant falciparum form is present and is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine and resistant to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Resistance to mefloquine and to quinine has been reported from areas near the borders with Myanmar and Cambodia.

Snake Bites In tourist resorts you will probably have to go to a show to see one they hate the vibrations in a heavily populated area. In the rural areas they are reasonably common the majority are not poisonous or not life threatening. Nearly everyone gets bitten on the hand, so dont stick your hand in holes or in brush or dense undergrowth if you get bitten stay calm, its probably only going to be a good holiday story. Try to get a good look at the snake that can be important get a good description or take a photo and seek medical help, even tiny rural hospitals are experts and delivering babies and dealing with snake bites.