Going to live abroad represents a major decision whatever one’s age, and you need to consider carefully from the outset whether it is the right course of action for you. For the young and unattached moving to another country is a relatively simple matter, but for others who are well established in a particular locality, it can represent a considerable upheaval and expense. Is it worth it? Living abroad may sound exciting, even glamorous, but one really needs to look beyond the enticing brochures. A warm, mild climate, for instance, may be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and the summer temperatures may prove overwhelming; picturesque villages may lack vital facilities that you take for granted, especially if your health is poor; and although the social life promises to be enjoyable, do you really want to be separated from family and friends at your stage of life? Seasoned expatriates who have lived and worked abroad for a number of years will have some inkling of what to expect and be accustomed to examining the pros and cons of living in a particular country. This is something that you must get down to as well, and this chapter sets out a range of matters that you need to consider.

The Third Age And Beyond

I have referred to the fact that people – in the developed world at least – are living longer and staying fitter. Indeed retirement for some can represent a considerable chunk of their lives which can be divided into three distinct phases:

• The active, independent phase. You are in full possession of your faculties and are fit and healthy. You also have sufficient retirement income. Most people who consider retiring abroad are in this condition, ready to live life to the full – and this phase could last for ten, twenty or thirty years, depending on circumstances.
• The less active, partly dependent phase. Unfortunately, increased age takes its toll, and you may find yourself entering the next stage. Your health may start to fail, you may experience the death of a partner or need someone (usually a relative) you can turn to in an emergency.
• The dependent phase. This is the time when you are no longer able to cope by yourself. In the UK there are a wide range of welfare facilities to help you cope with the problems of age which come in the form of home helps, meals on wheels, sheltered housing and residential homes.

 

I don’t want to sound excessively gloomy. A good many people remain in full possession of their faculties until their final hours, and for a retiree in the peak of condition the idea that some day one could be ‘sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything’ will sound positively grotesque.

However, you need to bear in mind that a sudden illness or disability can strike down the fittest pensioner. We are fortunate in the UK that there is a comprehensive system of services, both statutory and voluntary, to ensure that the elderly disabled are properly looked after.

Elsewhere in the world health provision is less extensive and not really geared up to dealing with frail expatriates. In many countries, care for the elderly tends to be the responsibility of the family or charities (normally religious orders), and sheltered housing for retired expatriates is still comparatively rare.

Permanent Or Temporary Foreign Residence?

In view of the fact that your health is almost bound to decline in time, you may decide against settling abroad permanently. Instead, you might opt to limit your stay in another country and return to the UK when you start to become frail or your partner dies.

This is quite a sensible plan, though it does not always work out in practice. People rarely recognise that they have moved on to the second or third phase of retirement, and they put off the evil day when they have to change their lifestyle. It is not really surprising, since returning home can represent a considerable upheaval in itself: it means abandoning your circle of friends, a familiar lifestyle and often an attractive climate to return to the leaden, unwelcoming skies of Northern Europe.

Even if you make up your mind to return to Britain there could be obstacles in your path. Some overseas property owners have experienced difficulty in selling their homes, or have returned to the UK only to find that houses have become so dear that they cannot really afford one with the anticipated receipts from the sale of their foreign property.

One solution is to keep your feet in two camps as it were, and live abroad for just part of the year. Like a migratory bird you winter in Florida or Southern Europe and return to the UK for the spring and summer. Maintaining two residences might sound expensive, but some of the cost could be offset – at least partially – by letting either dwelling at the times of the year when you do not need it.

At this point it is worth noting that the decision to live indefinitely in a country may not be entirely in your hands. Would-be retirees to the USA, for instance, may find a permanent residence visa is difficult to come by, though it is perfectly easy for a foreigner to buy a home there and stay in it for half the year on a tourist visa.