Australian families seeking to avoid aged care facilities at home are finding the care and services they need, including dementia care, in luxurious resorts overseas, such as in the northern Thailand city of Chiang Mai, the Nine Network's 60 Minutes reported on Sunday.
An example of one such home is Vivo Bene, where Australian Brad Roberts is manager.
"This is how it's meant to be, this is how our elders should be cared for, this is what they deserve," Brad told 60 Minutes.
"If we can do it over here in Thailand and in a developing country, it saddens me that Australia can't even come close at the moment.
"The only way it's gonna happen in Australia is the politicians, finally, please inject some money into age care," he said.
Vivo Bene offers single rooms for those dependent on care in six pavilions, each with 12 guests rooms, common areas, a kitchen, and rooms for nursing purposes.
Living units are also available with one, two or three bedrooms, allowing couples to live together, for example with separate bedrooms and an adjoining door.
Villa rooms have 20sqm terraces overlooking a lake.
Vivo Bene's facilities include a wheelchair accessible pool, wellness centre, fitness room, sauna, hairdresser, beauty salon, and a pétanque and dart play area.
The restaurant serves Asian, Thai, Western and Swiss food.
Rates start at 1,900 Thai Baht per day, the equivalent of about $80 - and there is no expensive upfront Refundable Accommodation Deposit. However, depending on the room, food and care, fees can be much higher.
Earlier this year, in our premium digital magazine SATURDAY, we reported that Community Home Australia founder and Managing Director, Dr Rodney Jilek, had paid a deposit on the 3.5 star Aashaya Jasri Resort in Karangasem, 75km from Bali Airport on the east coast of Bali, with the aim of offering people living with dementia and other neurocognitive conditions the chance to travel to the island nation.
