Why We ABSOLUTELY Love Retiring in India after 27 years in US
Dr. Alice, a nursing professor who got her PhD at age 60, retired in India after 27 years in the US. Learn about retirement home costs ($13,000/month in US vs 60,000 rupees in India), healthcare comparison, and why she believes India is the best place for old age.
Why We ABSOLUTELY Love Retiring in India after 27 years in US
Dr. Alice, a nursing professor who achieved her PhD at age 60, shares why she and her husband chose to retire in India after 27 years in the US. Discover the real costs of retirement homes, healthcare comparisons, and why she believes India is the best place for old age.
Key Highlights from Dr. Alice's Journey
- Moved to US in 1997 as green card holder, spent 27 years there
- Achieved PhD in Education at age 60 with distinction
- Retired as tenured professor from University of Nevada
- Husband's health crisis (brain bleed) triggered the decision to move
- US nursing home cost: $13,000/month per person vs India: 60,000 rupees for both
- Chose St. Matthew's Home in Kerala - 8 acres, 6 meals/day, full services
- Social Security from US is enough to live very comfortably in India
- Key insight: In India, you can hire help; in US, you're alone at home
The Reality of Old Age: "In America, who is there to take care of you in your own home? Nobody. You have to make your own cup of coffee and drink it and then lie down. Call 911 to go to the hospital. Now I am thinking about comparing old age in America and old age in India - India is the best place."
📚 Background: From Nurse to PhD Professor
Dr. Alice's journey is one of passion and perseverance. She was a nurse in India before moving to the United States in 1997 with her husband and son as green card holders, sponsored by her sister-in-law.
The Remarkable Academic Journey
Once her son graduated from engineering (debt-free, thanks to her hard work), Dr. Alice decided to pursue her own education:
Academic Achievements
- BSc in Nursing: Completed in the US
- Masters in Education: Chose education because colleagues said she'd be a great teacher
- PhD in Education: Completed at age 60 with distinction
- Timeline: Finished PhD in just 2 years (including 70 credit hours and dissertation)
Dr. Alice worked as a professor at University of Cincinnati, Indiana Wesleyan University, and retired as a tenured professor from University of Nevada.
🇺🇸 Life in the US: Career and Family
Dr. Alice and her husband always loved India and wanted to return. They maintained a house in Kerala specifically for retirement. However, life had other plans initially.
The Initial Plan vs Reality
Original Plan: Return to India for retirement
What Changed: Son got married, grandkids arrived
New Decision: "Seeing their faces, playing with them - we thought we'll sacrifice going back to India and stay here for the rest of our life."
They chose to live near their son in Nevada but maintained independence - not living with him to give both families privacy and independence.
⚡ The Trigger: Health Crisis and Reality Check
Everything changed when Dr. Alice's husband had a brain bleed and was hospitalized for 10 days.
The Reality of Caregiving in the US
"Coming back home, it was an awful time mentally and physically. I was still working at the University of Nevada. Monday through Friday, I had to take him for checkups - different specialists, physiotherapy, occupational therapy. He cannot walk, so I have to get him in the car, drive, put him in the wheelchair, take him to the doctor's office, bring him back. I am old too - a female person and I am old."
The harsh realization hit:
The Math That Changed Everything
- Nursing home cost in Nevada: $13,000 per month per person for a nice facility
- For both of them: $26,000 per month
- Savings runway: Would last about 5 years maximum
- The unknown: "We don't know how long we're going to live"
🤔 The Decision: Why India for Retirement
Dr. Alice made the decision using what she calls "ethical analysis" - a framework she uses for all major decisions in life.
The Decision-Making Process
- Prayed about the decision (she's a believer)
- Did ethical analysis - pros and cons
- Calculated financial implications
- Considered quality of life in both scenarios
Timeline: From husband's surgery (April 30, 2023) to moving to India (April 20, 2024) - exactly one year
Decision time: Within 4 months of the health crisis
Why Not Stay in the US?
The US Reality for Elderly
- No one to take care of you at home
- Can't afford 24-hour help
- Nursing homes are extremely expensive
- Even with Medicare, home care is limited
- Organizations may deliver food, but who warms it if you can't get up?
🏠 Choosing a Retirement Home in India
Dr. Alice researched retirement homes online from the US. She found several options but had concerns about ownership models where you buy a unit.
Concerns with Ownership Model
- High upfront cost to own
- Difficulty getting money back when you pass away
- Son is in America - hard for him to deal with property matters in India
- "People are not very friendly when your son comes from America to get money back"
Finding St. Matthew's Home
Just 10 minutes before signing a contract for another place, Dr. Alice prayed and searched again. St. Matthew's Home in Kerala appeared.
St. Matthew's Home Features
- Location: Kottayam District, Kerala
- Land: 8 acres with gardens and parks
- Meals: 6 meals per day
- Services: Laundry, house cleaning, all included
- Pathways: All paved for wheelchair access
- Healthcare: Nurses on call, monthly checkups
- Hospital: 6 kilometers away
- Down payment: Only one-third or one-fourth of what other places required
They made the decision virtually - saw rooms online, got information by phone, and committed without visiting in person first.
🏥 Healthcare: India vs US Comparison
As a nursing professor, Dr. Alice provides unique insights into healthcare differences:
Healthcare Comparison
| Aspect | United States | India |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance (65+) | Medicare - most generics free, hospitalization covered | Insurance available up to 70 years only |
| Home Care | Very expensive, hard to find 24-hour help | Affordable - can hire home nurses easily |
| Hospital Access | Excellent facilities but expensive | Good hospitals nearby, affordable |
| Daily Care | You're on your own at home | Servants, nurses, family support available |
Dr. Alice's Healthcare Philosophy
Realistic Expectations
"I am not expecting to have an open heart surgery or organ transplantation - liver, kidney, or heart. No transplantation. Whatever comfortable life I need - be taken to hospital, take care of me, intubate me only for two weeks, not more than that. I don't want any tracheostomy. Peaceful, comfortable life."
Her advice: "Some people at 86-90 want pacemakers and valve replacements. Such ambitious people must stay in the United States or London or Australia."
💰 Real Costs: Retirement Home Expenses
Monthly Costs at St. Matthew's Home
| Room Type | Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single Room | 30,000 rupees | Per person, rooms are quite big |
| Double Room (couple) | 60,000 rupees total | 30,000 each |
| Suite (single person) | 45,000 rupees | Extra room charge |
| Suite (couple) | 60,000 rupees total | Living room + bedroom + dressing area + bathroom |
Included: 6 meals/day, laundry (washed and ironed), house cleaning, basic healthcare monitoring
Total residents: About 80 people, only 7 suites available
Financial Planning
Social Security is Enough
"Whoever lived in the United States and worked there for 40 credit hours or 10 years - when they come back, even if it's $2,000 monthly, you can live very happily. We get Social Security for both of us - that will be plenty money for us to live very comfortably here."
Important: You must have 40 work credits (about 10 years of work) to receive Social Security benefits while living abroad.
🇮🇳 Life in India: Adjustments and Joy
After 27 years in the US, Dr. Alice and her husband are thriving in India. They've been there about 8 months.
What They Love
- Freedom: Can drive anywhere - movies, shopping, visiting family, sightseeing
- No household burden: No cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping worries
- Social life: Meet people in dining room, yoga classes, evening walks in the park
- Activities: 1-hour yoga class daily (45 min yoga + 15 min stories/singing)
- Travel: Can still do international vacations - planning to visit grandkids in US
- Sense of belonging: "The moment we stepped in, you are in your home country"
The Mindset Shift
Dr. Alice noticed that many residents at the retirement home were initially gloomy - they felt abandoned by their children. But she and her husband came with a different mindset:
Own Decision vs Forced Decision
"We came with our own decision. We happily came here, so we are very happy. Some people think going to a retirement home is like an orphanage - that's wrong. It's a different lifestyle where you don't have to manage your household or servants. It's almost like hospitality being provided with much more comfort."
💡 Advice for NRIs Considering Retirement in India
Key Recommendations
- Be realistic: Accept that you're getting older, health won't improve, chronic diseases will come - that's normal
- Shop around: Visit multiple retirement homes, stay for a couple of days to experience them
- Don't buy a house: At 60-65+, running a house is very hard - maintenance, servants, plumbing issues
- Make your own decision: Don't let children force you - come happily on your own terms
- Plan early: Think about retirement from the day you start working
- Don't spend everything on children: Keep savings for yourself - children will change, their lives are different
For Those with Ambitious Medical Needs
Who Should Stay in the US
"Some people at 86-90 want pacemakers, valve replacements - such ambitious people must stay in the United States or London or Australia. Again, it's everyone's perspective where they want to live."
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Dr. Alice decide to retire in India after 27 years in the US?
Dr. Alice and her husband always wanted to come back to India. They had maintained a house in Kerala for retirement. However, after their son got married and had grandkids, they initially decided to stay in the US. The turning point came when her husband had a brain bleed and was hospitalized for 10 days. She realized that managing his care while working was extremely difficult - taking him to specialists Monday through Friday, getting him in and out of the car, wheelchair management - all while being old herself. They calculated that nursing home costs in Nevada were $13,000 per month per person, and their savings would run out in about 5 years. In India, with Social Security, they could live very comfortably.
How much does the retirement home in India cost compared to the US?
In Nevada, a nice nursing home costs $13,000 per month per person. In India, at St. Matthew's Home in Kerala, they pay 60,000 rupees per month for both of them (30,000 each for regular rooms, or 45,000 for a single person in a suite due to extra room). This includes 6 meals per day, laundry, house cleaning, and all basic services. The retirement home is situated on 8 acres of land with gardens, parks, and paved pathways for wheelchairs.
What are the healthcare differences between India and the US for retirees?
In the US with Medicare, almost all generic medicines are free and hospitalization is covered. However, there's no one to take care of you at home - you have to make your own coffee, warm your own food, and call 911 for emergencies. In India, you can hire home nurses and helpers with half the money. The retirement home has nurses on call, monthly health checkups, and a hospital just 6 kilometers away. Dr. Alice notes that for everyday illnesses and accessibility, India is better. She's not planning for major surgeries like organ transplants - for comfortable end-of-life care, India is ideal.
Planning Your Retirement in India?
Dr. Alice's story shows that with proper planning and the right mindset, retiring in India can offer a comfortable, fulfilling life at a fraction of US costs. Whether you're considering retirement homes or other options, having the right information makes all the difference.
Ready to Plan Your Retirement Journey?
Like Dr. Alice, many NRIs are discovering that India offers excellent retirement options with better care and lower costs. Connect with our community to learn from others who have made similar transitions.
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