Brits Living Abroad in Spain – Careful planning ahead should ensure that Brits don’t have similar problems in Costa Rica.

In a recent report, Gordon Lishman, the Director General of Age Concern said that:

“Retiring to another country is very different from holidaying there and the key to a successful move is knowing what to expect. Access to health care may be more difficult, particularly for older people below the pensionable age, and we would encourage anyone thinking about retiring abroad to do their homework first.

For some, the reality doesn’t live up to the dream. It is essential that proper research is carried out before such a life changing decision is made.

Ultimately, not conducting proper research can lead to a lack of proper care when people most need it.”

Age Concern tips on what Brits should consider:

Remember to think about what will happen if you get ill. An increasing number of British older people living in Spain are unable to support themselves as a result of either health problems or lack of finance.

UK pensioners that are officially resident in Spain are entitled to the same health care as Spanish pensioners but post-hospital assistance, care at home and residential care can be difficult to find.

Long term financial planning is essential – find out about the cost of living and consider whether any of your income will stop if you move abroad. It can also be useful to consider moving on a trial basis, maintaining a base in the UK for a period rather than selling up straight away.

Language can play a major role, you may not need knowledge of the local language to go shopping but it may be crucial for other things such as going to the doctors.”

Age Concern produced a useful and thought provoking nine page .pdf report about the things you need to bear in mind when considering living abroad anywhere.

You can download the ‘Age Concern’ report about ‘Retiring Abroad – Waht to consider if you are planning to leave the UK’ in our Download Library here.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.