Guest spreadingwings Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I heard this mentioned the other day and wonder what the thoughts are around this. Regardless of your age now, where do you think you'd most like to be when you're 70 and older: Australia or UK? And why? Medical reasons? Weather? Comfort? Ease of access to health care? Ease of transport? Safety? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacaranda Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I don't mind either actually.Med reasons,well i'm lucky to have been quite healthy most of my life and hopefully will continue to do so,so not worried about that aspect.Weather?Hmmmm Not over fond of scorching summer days tbh,I do however enjoy spring time in Oz,when I think the temps are about right for me. Here in the UK I do like central heating,and not having to use anything to cool us down with in summer,so comfort wise,probably would sit on the fence (haha)with that one!Ease of access to healthcare?Again I'm lucky I have been healthy,only recently I had to have some tests done at a major hospital (routine check type thing)and was seen within a few days.I had to wait 2 days to get into my surgery so no biggie there either.Just turned out to be a hormone thing!lol.Ease of transport depends alot of course where you live in both countries.I've lived rurally in both.Never relied on public transport as such to get anywhere regularly,but where I live atm,I can easily walk into town (15 mins)or there is a little mini bus if the weather is dodgy.I think if I returned to Oz to live and got old there,I would probably choose a fairly big rural town which I could easily walk to.Safety wise?In my 30 years in Oz,unfortunately I experienced several episodes of horrible incidences.Mainly men exposing themselves, also had a guy trying to watch me shower when I was 14,on holiday with my parents.Was in the public amenities and after rinsing my hair,happened to look up at the blurred window to see a guys face pressed against it!Not pleasant!Another time I was nearly raped,and the last time I lived there,some drunken yob tried to force his way into my house!I'm not sticking up for the UK,but I've been here for a few years now,and touch wood,havent had anything horrible like that happen to me,so on the safety side of things,its the UK. Tbh though,personally it does'nt matter where you live,its your attitude towards it.I've worked with some of the poorest people on the planet and........they've sometimes been the happiest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wakeboard1980 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Australia for me because it has always been and always be my home. The UK is just my home away from home. And I couldn't be dealing with the winters and weather in general here when I'm that old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 UK for me, no doubts. Better weather for outdoors things, better services for the elderly, more things geared to elders' interests, better transport for those not driving any more, the NHS, safety, sense of supportive community just to name a few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunbury61 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 UK for me, no doubts. Better weather for outdoors things, better services for the elderly, more things geared to elders' interests, better transport for those not driving any more, the NHS, safety, sense of supportive community just to name a few. U.k all day long, as I get older ...just had friends buy an apartment, to use for their retirement next to the Doctors ...new 2 bed £130,000....500 yds from the pub , where lunches are 4 quid ....regular bus service into Solihull .....huge trading estate up the road ...m&s ...argos ...boots , all the usual suspects ...train station 1 mile away . If it was purely weather related , I would be back to oz ......but I couldn't think of anything worse than growing old in some outback aussie town, its as bad as watching my mom grow old in inner city Birmingham .....on the coast maybe in oz would be better , but there would have to be a multitude of things to do other than the beach , and even that goes out the window when you are no longer mobile . my good wife and me are currently looking after 2 elderly relatives , and its sad to see the decline. I know people will be jumping to australias defence , but looking 10 t0 20 yrs ahead ( if I make it ) ...its got to be the u.k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher1 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Australia. I am watching the decline of my mother bunbury 1 and I agree it's very sad. I want to be in Australia when I am that age because that's where my daughter is - and when you get to that age, your family are the only ones who want to take the time to repeat everything sixty three times and listen to what you are saying. Plus these North Wales winters are murder for the arthritis... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher1 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Although, bunbury 1 you do make Sollihul sound very attractive. Spent a few years working in inner city Brum and would not want to grow old there but Solihull now, hmmm, still freezing in December though :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyupnorth Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I don't like the idea of being buried overseas, so I would have to grow old and die here in the UK with my family and friends around me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicheleW Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 It has to be Australia for me, I found that I suffered from depression, largely due to the weather in England, and that was when I was young and mobile, I really don't think I could deal with it when I am older. As for other factors, it is much of a muchness, though for me personally, I feel that Australia has a lot more to offer me. Maybe that is because I was born here and therefore have an affinity for the place, but I see how my parents are getting on here as they get older and they really do have a fantastic life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Australia where my children are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peccavi Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 UK. Round peg, round hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gbye grey sky Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Interesting. So far everyone posting seems to be in the place that they want to end up. For me I am hoping it will be a hot country rather than a cold one but I am grateful, and feel very privileged, to have the choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritChickx Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I really couldn't possibly say....We only arrived in Aus a month ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Amelie Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Melbourne, Australia for me. The public transport is so much better than where I have lived in the UK. Also, the hot weather would do wonders for health reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flathead Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 UK definitely......Which is why I will be returning when I retire. Would hate to grow old here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I don't think I will really know until the time comes. At the moment I am thinking Australia would be nice, is like to live by the sea maybe in Queensland. That presumes I have my health and financial resources though. If my health and financial resources were not strong, then I think the UK would be better for me, better healthcare I think and lower cost of living. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gbye grey sky Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 UK definitely......Which is why I will be returning when I retire. Would hate to grow old here. Curious why that is as we are planning the opposite. Really find UK hard to take from November to March particularly as I get older which is writing off half of what is left of my life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Right now I'd say UK, I have no plans to ever return to Australia to live. Living in Scotland the NHS is superb, services for the elderly are superb and both come free. My dad is in hospital at the moment and the range of services to support him once he can go home is outstanding. My mum's cousin was a £10 Pom and is in Queensland - he has a good life, lives in a golf complex and that's his pleasure but he reckons pensioners are much better off in the UK. If I had the finances to support it, I certainly wouldn't mind spending a couple of months spring or autumn in Australia each year. And if my son was to settle there that could be a game changer who knows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gbye grey sky Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I don't think I will really know until the time comes. At the moment I am thinking Australia would be nice, is like to live by the sea maybe in Queensland. That presumes I have my health and financial resources though. If my health and financial resources were not strong, then I think the UK would be better for me, better healthcare I think and lower cost of living. I know that better healthcare in UK is often cited but I suspect that the UK climate means you are more likely to have to call on that healthcare in old age. Not only that but the NHS is really feeling the strain and with an ageing population the cracks must widen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I've been working in aged care here in Australia as a Home Help and I've been to all sorts of houses, some well off others exceptionally poor and without a shadow of a doubt it's Australia for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi69 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 At this very moment in time I would have to say Australia, but if my daughters ended up back in the UK then I would imagine I would too. Hopefully they would help look after me!! I'm still not sure of the ins and outs of the medical system here so costs may be an issue to think about too. All in all though Oz would win hands down. Even if I couldn't do much more than sit out in the sun in a garden or on a balcony I would rather be doing that than being stuck indoors because of the weather in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1977 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Where you want to grow old and where you're be able to afford to grow old may be too different things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest 47403 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I'd hate to grow old in the UK restrictive damp weather during winter, I'd rather be in the south of France or Spain if it wasn't Australia! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flathead Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I know that better healthcare in UK is often cited but I suspect that the UK climate means you are more likely to have to call on that healthcare in old age. Not only that but the NHS is really feeling the strain and with an ageing population the cracks must widen. Much prefer the UK climate to here......plus I have worked, and been a patient, in the healthcare system in both countries. UK wins hands down for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Wherever I am at the time - 10 years ago I didn't see myself in Aus at all, I was planning an early retirement - never know what's around the corner - I'm just going with the flow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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