A retired British couple has settled into a care resort in Chiang Mai, Thailand, after living in France, Malta and the UK in search of a place to grow old. Peter Millard, 78, said the move offers an “insurance policy” for whichever partner is left behind.
The couple moved to Care Resort Chiang Mai in February 2023 after a weeklong visit convinced them it was the right fit. The facility owner told Business Insider the typical monthly cost per resident is about 61,800 Thai baht, or $1,914, depending on the level of care and room type.
The Millards, who met while working in the health service in Birmingham, had already spent more than 20 years moving between countries. They lived in southern France for years, later moved to Malta, then tried retirement living in the UK before deciding that northern Thailand could meet their needs better.
Peter said the search for a permanent home became more urgent with age. He pointed to practical concerns such as transport, property upkeep and the possibility that one partner could be left alone.
“You get to an age where there’s no public transport, there’s a lot of land to look after, and you start to wonder if you’ll be able to cope in 10 years’ time,” said Peter Millard, retiree.
That thinking shaped their move away from France, where they had first settled in Lodève after building a holiday home in the area. The house, about 31 miles from Montpellier, offered views of the hills and became the centre of a busy social life with local neighbours and their children.
But as the couple aged, they began to look for somewhere more manageable. In 2012 they moved to Malta, where they lived in a centrally located three-bedroom penthouse, but after seven years they felt the island was too small and returned to the UK.
That return did not go smoothly. The couple moved into a retirement complex on England’s south coast, but Peter described it as a mistake after new management made the atmosphere stricter and the food poorer. They left after less than three months and rented an apartment instead.
Even then, the UK no longer felt like home. Peter later had a triple heart bypass as the pandemic began, and the couple remained in England for nearly three years.
The idea of another move resurfaced when Rita read an article about retirement living in Chiang Mai. The couple had never been to Asia before, but they decided to investigate. After a short stay at Care Resort Chiang Mai, they agreed the place felt right.
The resort sits on the outskirts of Chiang Mai and offers landscaped surroundings, including greenery and a large lake. Peter said the setting felt “like living in a park”.
They were also given freedom to decorate their living space, which helped make the resort feel like home. Several months after the visit, they moved permanently in February 2023.
The couple said they have no children, which makes long-term planning more straightforward. Peter said they have spent decades travelling together and now see the Thai care facility as their final move.
The story reflects a wider trend among some retirees who are choosing northern Thailand for affordability, lifestyle and care. For the Millards, the decision came after years of testing different countries and practical limits, and settling on one place that suited them both.
Care costs in Thailand remain far lower than in many Western countries, although prices vary by room and the level of support required. The family-style setting and lower monthly fees have made Chiang Mai an option for older foreigners seeking stability in later life.
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