VivoCare
VivoCare (stylized VivoCare Dementia Care Residence) is a private long-term dementia care provider headquartered in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is one of several specialized dementia care homes (e.g. memory care) in northern Thailand catering to residents from the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada and Australia.[1]
History
VivoCare was founded in 2021 by Doris Knecht, a Swiss-trained dementia care specialist. The residence initially focused on serving Swiss and German expatriates, and later expanded to welcome residents from other Western countries.[2]
Licensing and standards
VivoCare is fully licensed by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, which sets and enforces regulatory standards for medical and long-term care facilities. Ministry certification is a legal requirement for operating residential dementia care homes and distinguishes VivoCare from unlicensed providers in Thailand’s eldercare sector.[3]
Care model
VivoCare emphasizes the Person-Centered Care Model created by British gerontologist Dr. Tom Kitwood. The facility promotes individualized care plans, a high caregiver-to-guest ratio (approximately 1:1), and wellness activities tailored to people with complex dementia symptoms. The Singapore Journal noted that most residents remain at VivoCare until end-of-life, and that the residence also serves as a training site for dementia care interns from Singapore’s Temasek Polytechnic.[4]
Facilities
The flagship campus occupies a 2.4-hectare (6-acre) site in San Sai District, Chiang Mai, comprising villa-style houses, landscaped gardens, and a saltwater pool. A sister facility opened in Hua Hin in 2024 to serve clients preferring a coastal location.[5]
Reception
In 2025, the BBC World Service program Business Daily profiled VivoCare in a segment on dementia care in Thailand, highlighting the facility’s appeal to expatriates and international families.[6]
References
- ↑ Root, Rebecca (November 1, 2023). "Meet the elderly Britons swapping the NHS for luxury care homes in Thailand". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ↑ Hetherington, Philip (April 15, 2025). "Exploring Dementia Care Options in Thailand: Insights from VivoCare in Chiang Mai". ExpatDen. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ↑ "Health Establishment Division, Department of Health Service Support". Ministry of Public Health (Thailand). Retrieved August 23, 2025. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "A Promising Long‑Stay Nursing Residence: Doris Knecht As The CEO Of VivoCare". The Singapore Journal. December 8, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ↑ "VivoCare – Certified by the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand". VivoCare official website. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ↑ "Why are Westerners moving to Thai care homes?" (Audio). BBC World Service – Business Daily. BBC. June 19, 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
External links
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