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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Are there any countries out there that provide an equivalent level/amount of care for the elderly as one would expect at one of these expensive facilities but for a much more reasonable cost?  Or is this a US thing?[/quote]

My neighbor is of Indian descent and her father still lives in India.  Apparently, the gov. provides 24 hr care for him (he's 90+).  He can't come to the US anymore b/c they can no longer buy temporary health ins. for him.  And he gets better care in India.  [/quote]

I have family that got their parents green cards and they eventually became citizens. Now in their 80s, they qualify for Medicaid but the quality of care and services is terrible!  Doctors appointments take forever.  One of the parents needs extensive care - can't walk properly, needs someone to walk him to the bathroom (may fall and has fallen down several times if no one is watching, etc.) - but according to medicaid doctors not at a point, not enough to be recommended for a care facility.  They complain about awesome things would have been in India - 24/7 care, same day access doctors/specialists and hospitals, etc.  but can't return because all kids are here and no one in India to take care of them. [/quote]

I call BS on this comment. I’ve seen very recent documentaries about the healthcare system in India where family has to come to the hospital to care for covid patients or they don’t get cared for. Overrun and swamped and underfunded. India is going into the cesspool under Modi, it wouldn’t be a luxury elder care experience over there either.[/quote]

Your comment is about as ridiculous someone in India telling you that every American walks around with a gun and shoots others on sight!  What you say happened. Similar things also happened in the US during covid, or have you forgotten?  Remember the ventilator fiasco?  The public healthcare system in India is swamped and underfunded.  It is the most populous country in the world and is an emerging economy, so what do you expect?  However, the private healthcare system there is very robust.  In most cities (which is where these folks are from) you can see a specialist in any domain, the same day or within a day or two.  The best you can do here is a nurse at CVS or Urgent care/emergency care at an exorbitant premium.  As another poster noted, you can get full-time in-home care for a fraction of what it costs here without depending on the government or a cartel.

I posted recently on another thread - I got a prescription, had comprehensive blood work, abdominal scans and cervical MRIs done, had them reviewed by a doctor, purchased some prescribed medication all over the span of 3 days.  [b]Total cost about $250![/b].  I'm trying to get an appointment with a specialist here for my DC who needs to see one before heading out of the country next month, and the earliest appointments I'm getting are for end of June!

I do agree on your last point.  The eldercare experience in India is not a luxury experience, simply because it's not an organized corporate experience but is mostly in-house.  There is no medicaid equivalent for the poor, but that's not what I'm talking about (nor care about in this context).[/quote]

Given that the median monthly salary in India is ~$400/month this is still extremely expensive from a relative perspective. Yes as an American you can go get great deals on medical/elder care in developing countries but that doesn’t mean it’s affordable for the average person from the local population. And frankly you and other wealthy expats going to seek “bargain” medical care there is driving up costs and making it even less affordable for locals without alternatives.[/quote]

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