is it a good idea to retire to Spain without a way back

I´m not sure what care you are talking about that is available in the UK. I have recent first hand experience of there being very little.
My father had 3 visits daily from carers who had time for little more than to fill out their paperwork. The last one noted that he felt ill and promptly left. He´d had a stroke and was dead within the week.
Mum was at this time in hospital after collapsing and shattering her ankle (exhausted from caring for Dad for years with little if no respite) and would have been discharged home whilst still non-weight bearing to continue caring full time for Dad if she wasn´t able to pay for a private care home during her recovery.
Where was I in all this? Driving myself mad trying to work, keep an eye on Dad who lived an hour away and refused to go into a home whilst Mum was in hospital, whilst also spending as much time as I could with Mum.
Dad had been in hospital a few times before this, about 45 minutes drive away, and I could have cried with the lack of care on the wards and I refused to stick to visiting hours only. There was an elderly lady, probably with dementia, wandering the mixed ward with her hospital gown hitched up around her waist, totally naked underneath, looking for the toilet. Nobody came, she wet herself. A gentleman in the next bed mortified that the nurse told him there was nobody available to get him a bed pan so he must wet the bed, crying in shame, an elderly lady left with a salad sandwich which was just spilling all over the bed, she didn´t have the strength or co-ordination to eat it by herself, alarm bells ringing constantly, but ignored. On one of Dad´s discharge dates, I arrived to find him sat in the chair surrounded by his own urine. The nurse had removed the tube from the catheter bag but left Dad attached. He told me he had been sat there for about 3 hours. Because he was down for discharge, no lunch had been ordered for him so he had not eaten since breakfast. He was diabetic.
Mum, at 82 and just a week post surgery, in a 1200 GBP a week private nursing home was left in her unheated room ( in February with snow on the ground outside) when the heater broke with just an extra blanket. I was told that an engineer would come, but nobody did and no, I couldn´t bring our own electric heater in as it hadn´t been PAT tested. I found the person in charge and said I was going to start shouting, and I wasn´t going to stop shouting until they found a heater. Miraculously, one appeared.
I think I´ll take my chances in Spain.

I knew I would get a lot of different veiws on this my mother in law 97 years bless her is in a Wonder full home fully funded by NHS, Heard from a friend in torrevieja that he has been diagnosed with aggressive dementia  and is not getting any help from famerly in uk or so called friends in spain I don't know what he will do as it gets worse.

Hi, It is very dificult to advise you as to your individual circumstances, but I will tell you of my opinion after living here in Spain for the last 18 years. My wife and I burnt our bridges and came out here to live when I reached retirement age. However as I was a carpenter by trade I find that my was in short supply and I continued to work for a further 5 or 6 years. I found that the health service here was second to none. Plus at that time there were a lot of like minded people coming to Spain to live. As a result my wife and I began a social club which was very welcome as is still carrying on to this day. Unfortunately my wife suffered from dementia some 8 years ago and she sadly passed away last year. Now I think it is important that you understand Spanish culture. If you hap[pen to have to go into hospital for any reason, it is expected that your children or friends would look after your needs apart from the medical side. In other words they world feed you and wash you and generally take care of you in everything but the medical side. Another thing that I found was that the hospital staff did not understand dementia the only people that did were the carers in the care homes which were privately run. In my case I looked after my wife at home untill the end. In my time here I have made lots of friends and lost some of them too. However if I were to be perfectly honest and with what stories one reads about the care for the elderly in the UK I would certainly say that life is better here in Spain. Of course that might not be true of all of Spain, but it is where I live and at 85 years of age I would never contemplate going back to the UK. All the best.  Len.

Well we are looking to move Spain in the near future , this has been my only concern later in life ...

I am Spanish so I don't have a good point of view.

If you have a family that will take care of you in UK in the future maybe would be better to stay there but sometimes descendent don't care about anyone else for a lot of reasons (work, distance, time, their own children or SELFISHNESS).

I don't know what is covered by NHS there and what you will need in the future but I am imagine that private care will be cheaper.

For sure live here is cheaper and weather is so much nice.

In this area there is a so big community of UK people and some of them are very friendly and help (just look at this forum as example)

Regards Miguel

My advice would be to stop looking at 'what ifs' - the truth of the matter is none of us know how long we have got on this earth.  Could be soon, tomorrow, next week or 30 years time!!

Most people go back as they miss grandchildren that come along.  Yes some do lose their partners and then go back to the UK.  Some lose their partners and stay in Spain as that is their home and carry on with their life and social life regardless of changed circumstances.

If you concentrate on the possible illnesses etc you will never get anywhere in life. Go for it, treat Spain as your new home, stop thinking of UK as a 'bolt hole' and enjoy your life.

Today my friend in the UK is cold and fed up with winter.  Today I had a brilliant walk on the beach in the sun (lovely and windy) with my dog and sat outside and had a lovely cup of coffee.

No I am not a spring chicken but this life in Spain can keep you active if that is what you wish - stay active eat healthily and love every single minute of your new chapter.  Old age really is a state of mind and sunshine is the best cure.

Enjoy - Gilly

That is such a wonderful message to read.  Just have to reply.

 We have just moved to Spain aged 78 and 82. Yes, it has been far from easy...only because of the Patrons, N!E and paperwork we did not fully understand even with a Solicitors help. Nearly there now, apart from driving licences and car ITV.  Strangers have been happy to help and advise.

But, what a different life we are living. Fresh food, sunshine, longer hours in a day. People who stop  to TALK..AND SMILE

We are not stupid, yes, we worry about our health and what if's but we worried more in England shut in doors, pensions not stretching and doom and gloom!! yet we have a full family all separated by miles and their own lives.

I always remember the words on an old sundial we had   ... ''  This time alone is in our hands the hour in which the shadow stands ''

Pray for good health and good friends .

I am So sorry for your loss. Your story has become commonplace and the sadness is, that it's happening in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. 

I can't fault any of the care my late parents and in laws received while in hospital and care homes in the north east of Scotland but what I read things are not so good in England.

I'm looking forward to buying our holiday home soon and more healthy lifestyle with the sunshine and a better diet.