Age Concern
and Help the Aged’s Older People Residing Abroad (OPRA)
Your answers to the following
questions will help us provide this information.
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PLEASE ANSWER AS MANY
QUESTIONS AS YOU FEEL ABLE
TO.
Thank you very much for taking time to
complete this questionnaire.
About you
Name:
Contact details:
Country of Residence:
Pre-departure planning
What steps did
you take prior to departure?(eg
learning the language; researching area; checking financial implications)
What would
you recommend others to do?
How would you
recommend planning and arranging Removal?
Were there
any problems?
Do you have
any other comments?
Arrival
What initial
steps should you take on entering the country?( Eg visas; register with police; getting by for the first
few weeks)
What are the
emergency numbers of your country of residence?
Do you have
any other comments?
Property
If you rented
initially or are currently renting, how did you go about it?
Are there advantages of renting long-term over
purchase?
How did you
go about purchasing your property?
Can you
provide information on relevant organisations?
Are there any
property-related issues which a
(eg checking property ownership;
inheritance laws; regional variations)
Do you have
any other comments?
Services and utilities
How did you
go about setting up the following services:
Electricity
Gas (piped or
bottled?)
Water
Phone &
Internet; mobile phone
Refuse
collection
Do you have
any other comments?
Language
How important
do you think it is to speak the local language?
Are classes
available where you live? If so, what is the cost?
Are
interpreting and translation services available? If
so, how would you rate their quality? How expensive
are they?
Do you have any other comments?
Equality and diversity
Are there
differences in issues of equality and diversity in your country of residence compared
with in the
If so, what
are they?
Do you have
any other comments?
Transport
What is the
local transport system like? Cost?
What are the
pros and cons of importing a car from the
What are the
pros and cons of purchasing a car in your country of residence?
How does the
driving experience differ from that of the
What
servicing and testing regulations ( eg
MOT) are there and what do they cost?
Do you have
any further comments?
The Law- Legal system
Are there
things that you do routinely in the
Are there
things you must remember to do which you might not routinely do in the
Where can you
access this information?
Do you have
any further comments?
Health
What are the
major differences between the health services in the
Dental
services?
Opticians?
Hospital
facilities and post-operative care)
Is there a
cost for using the health services or are they free? (eg consultations, surgery,
prescriptions; Do you need to contribute
to an insurance scheme?)
How do you
access the health services, ie registration
procedures?
Do you have
any other comments?
Social Welfare
What type of
social care is available? (eg home help; care-homes; residential and sheltered
housing)
How is it
funded and is there an income/savings limit?
How is it
accessed?
Do you have
any other comments?
Finances
Cost of living: How does this compare with the
Banking: How do you set up a bank account and
how do bank charges and services differ from in the
Pension: Do you need to make special
arrangements to access your pension?
Tax: What are the tax liabilities in your
country of residence? (eg income; inheritance; local; property etc)
Will: Is it necessary to make a will in
your country of residence or is a
EPA: Is there a similar system of EPAs ( Enduring Power of Attorney) in your country of
residence, to allow a person you have authorised in advance to act on your
behalf should you become incapacitated?
Formal separation and
divorce rights:
Are these the same as in the
Where can you
access further advice and information?
Do you have
any other comments?
Security
Is personal
safety an issue in your country of residence? If so,
what measures can be taken to improve the situation?
What security
measures are needed to protect your property (either from necessity or because
insurance companies demand them)
Is data
protection an issue in your country of residence? If
so, what measures can be taken to improve levels of security?
Do you have any other comments?
Voting
What voting
rights do you have as a
Do you have
any other comments?
Daily Life
What is life
like in your country of residence- positive and negative?
When the
rose-tinted glasses break, what advice can you give to alleviate any
homesickness?
Do you have
any other comments?
Cultural Awareness
What are the
key patterns of behaviour that are observed in your country of residence which
differ significantly from the
What would be
offensive in your country of residence but not in the
Do you have
any other comments?
Integration
Are there
organised activities in your area which could help a newcomer integrate into
the local community? If yes, please list.
What advice
would you give for integrating into the local community?
Do you have
any other comments?
Pets
Are there any
issues surrounding bringing a pet into your country of residence?
Where can
further information be accessed?
Please return
this questionnaire to:
Ann Stewart
Living Abroad Writer Volunteer
Older People Living Abroad Programme
Age Concern & Help the Aged
Astral House, 1268 London Road, London SW16 4ER