Vivo Bene resource for the Swiss Alzheimer's disease patients will be formally launched in February 2014. Located in Doi Chess , Chiang Mai , its construction costs BT250 million and can celebrate 90 patients in capacity .
Swiss tourists usually 11 - hour flight to Thailand to explore cultural sites and enjoy its white - sand beaches, but from next year, many could also fly to utilize long- stay facilities in Chiang Mai for Alzheimer's patients .Bernhard Rutz , who set up an in vivo Bene resort in the north of the city last year , said the location was perfect, the locals are friendly , there is easy access to medical services, and affordable cost of living and it is rich in natural and cultural beauty.
Rutz is one of the three largest shareholders of Vivo Bene Thailand, which is wholly owned by the Swiss operators. With investment BT250 million , construction of the resort began in November and is scheduled to open its doors officially in February.
Located in Doi Chess , 12 - Rai ( 2 - hectare) complex will have six units with 12 rooms in the house about 90 patients. Inside, all facilities from the restaurant and spa with massage to a hairdresser and beauty salon . Four Hotel Villas with two rooms which will serve as accommodation for visiting family and friends .
Its location , just 20 minutes from downtown Chiang Mai , ensures easy access to medical care . Rutz said he expected occupancy of 60-70 percent after opening, and if his plans are right and remedy proves to be a success, it will be expanded to increase the number of patients to 200 . Vivo Bene three patients already in hand.
The company is a wholly foreign-owned because the investment was under the control of investment. Rutz said he had already had a bitter experience in Bali , where he set up a two- star hotel with a local appointed to deal with investment regulations and ended up being cheated out of business.
Although the resort has been built in Lanna style, follow all the facilities and services Swiss standards. Patients will be taken care of by experienced German - and French -speaking medical staff , who will also occasionally take them out of the complex for outbound survey.
Accommodation for one person costs 5,800 Swiss francs ( Bt199 , 000 ) per month and will cover daily necessities including food, non-alcoholic beverages and personal care . He said this was much cheaper than in Switzerland, where patients were charged based on their condition .
For example , a patient in a bad situation may end up having to pay 13,000 francs per month, medium - level patient could end up paying about 12,700 francs per month.
He explained that there was a growing demand for housing, which in many European population was aging.
In Switzerland , the retirement age is 65 for men and 64 for women. During his working years , they contribute 25 percent of their income to social security and pension schemes , and earn about Bt200 , 000 on average after retirement.
In addition , the country's statistics show that the number of Alzheimer's patients is increasing, and will increase from 125,000 in 2010 to 160,000 in 2020 , 218,000 in 2030 and 263,000 in 2040 . When compared to the total population of 8,000,000 , this group makes up 1.9 percent of the total in 2020 to 2.5 percent in 2030 and 2.95 percent in 2040 .
Also , the number of people aged over 65 expected to about 1,680,000 in 2020 , 2,110,000 in 2030 and 2,390,000 in 2040 . For those older than 80, its number will increase to 561,000 in 2020 , 735,000 in 2030 and 1.09 million in 2040 . And those older than 90 will grow to 104,000 in 2020 , 150,000 in 2030 and 231,000 in 2040 , thanks to medical advances .
In 2010, the number of people aged over 65, 80 and 90 was 1.53 million , 444,000 , and 66,000 respectively.
While Rutz admitted that if the opportunity was large, it was still hard to convince them to stay at Vivo Bene , adding that many had expressed concerns about medical care available. Also, see Alzheimer's patients difficult to make adjustments.
Therefore , he said , the company has decided to stand up to the challenge and plan to bring all parties to tour the site.
