There are no firm statistics about the number of retired foreigners in Indonesia, but a safe guess would be tens of thousands. Most of these retirees are from Europe, North America and Australia. Many live in Bali and plan to remain there to the end of their lives.
The physical and mental health issues common to aging populations are usually managed at the family level in Indonesia. Foreigners don’t often have families living here, and they’re far from the eldercare safety nets of their home countries. As health declines, their options in Bali are limited to home nursing or moving to an assisted living facility.
Hovi Fills the Gap
Since 2021, Hovi has provided the only European-level assisted living residence in Bali. Located within the Kasih Ibu Hospital in Saba, it offers a comprehensive range of services to both international and Indonesian residents.
“At Hovi Assisted, we’re deeply committed to professional, compassionate care,” says Managing Director of Hovi Care Bali facilities Ibu Dewi Trisnawati (Trisna). “Our focus is on mental stimulation and physical activity tailored to the individual needs, abilities and interests of each client. We encourage them to be as independent as possible. Our high ratio of English-speaking nurses ensures plenty of engagement and support. And the naturally warm, caring and patient nature of the Balinese makes them outstanding caregivers.”
Hovi is a Finnish family company with over 35 years of experience in eldercare and dementia. Its 11 service units in Finland, three in Singapore and two in Bali, all follow strict protocols of care and continuing education for staff in dementia management.
The 15-bed assisted living facility in Bali is bright, cheerful and homelike. The individual rooms with their own toilets are spacious, as is the large outdoor area. The dining/activities room is a centre for daily games, art projects and cooking demonstrations, with the residents taking an active role. There’s a music room for singing and dancing, age-appropriate gym equipment for supervised workouts, and outings to the beach. Residents enjoy regular manicures and haircuts. Visitors are always welcome.
“The location of Hovi Assisted within the Kasih Ibu Hospital ensures immediate and extended medical support if required,” Ibu Trisna points out. “The hospital also provides physiotherapy for Parkinson’s patients and post-stroke rehabilitation under the same roof. All of the caregivers at Hovi Assisted are experienced registered nurses with special training in dementia care. We also offer cognitive testing.”
Long Term Care
Hovi Assisted offers Long-Term Residential Care for seniors needing help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. Some clients require Full Care, which is long-term skilled nursing with medical supervision and daily assistance for severe chronic conditions, complex medical needs or permanent, round-the-clock care.
Short Term/Step Down Care
Hovi Assisted also offers Step Down Care, which is short-term, rehabilitation-focused support to maximise independence and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions or long-term care. These are usually post-surgical patients who no longer require acute hospital care but are not yet ready to go home.
Respite
Another service offered by Hovi Assisted is Respite, short-term residential care to give families/caregivers a break or to cover holiday periods when home care staffing can be a challenge.
Senior Day Care
Hovi Care Bali operates a dedicated day care centre at Hovi Club Teuku Umar in Denpasar. Open from Monday to Friday for half-day and full-day visits, it offers daily programs and activities for seniors, including social interaction, lunch and physical and cognitive wellness.
Hovi Assisted also offers a Morning Club for visitors in the Ubud area on Wednesday and Friday mornings for those who want to avoid the traffic in Denpasar.
Bringing Aged Parents to Bali for Care
A small but growing number of foreign elders are being brought to live in Bali by their families. The cost of eldercare in North America and Australia is very high, and the ratio of caregivers to clients is low. The high quality and lower cost of eldercare at Hovi Assisted are increasingly attractive.
Long-term Indonesian resident Roderick brought his mother to Bali from California a few months ago.
“My mother, Sylvia, had a fall two years ago and fractured her spine, which required surgery. Then she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. My siblings had been looking after her, but she eventually needed a full-time professional care team, which was very expensive in the US. Sylvia now lives next door to me in Bali with three caregivers and is settling in well.”
Sylvia is very well-travelled and speaks several languages. She loves Bali but found her days long and quiet. Roderick began to seek social activities for Sylvia. Hovi Care in Denpasar offers full and half-day visits for activities and therapy, but the commute from Ubud was too long. Roderick had heard about Hovi Assisted. He visited Ibu Trisna, who agreed to start a Morning Club two days a week at the Saba facility, only 20 minutes from their home.
Sylvia now looks forward to her Wednesday and Friday morning visits to Hovi Assisted. She’s made new friends with whom she can speak English, French and Indonesian, and enjoys the activities which include exercises, arts and crafts, karaoke singing and games. She especially appreciates the Hovi team of caring, engaged caregivers.
A Safe Haven for Indonesian Elders
It’s not just expats who live happily at Hovi Assisted. Three Indonesian elders have found a home there, comfortably settled with familiar nurses speaking their own language.
“Until very recently, Indonesian families were multigenerational, and there was always someone at home to care for the elders,” Ibu Trisna observes. “These days, everybody is working long hours, and there’s often no one available to stay home. The culture is slowly changing to accept the fact that placing their beloved elders in a high-quality care facility is a better option than leaving them alone at home or with a maid.
“At Hovi Club and Hovi Assisted, they are safe, loved, and well cared for, have familiar food and the mental and physical stimulation they need to keep them optimally alert and healthy. This gives peace of mind to families who may be working abroad or working long hours.”
Hovi Club and Hovi Assisted provide a safe haven for elders in Bali. For more information, contact Ibu Trisna at +62 811 385 914