Residents & Families
What families say,
in their own words
The most honest account of baannilel comes from those who have lived here or placed a loved one in our care. We are grateful to those who have shared their experience.
Back to Home8+
Years Operating
60+
Residents Welcomed
4.8
Average Family Rating
12
Countries Represented
From Those Who Know
Families share their experience
Siriporn Lertsuk
Daughter of resident · Bangkok
My mother moved to baannilel two years ago after we could no longer manage alone. What surprised us most was how quickly she felt at home. The food she describes in our phone calls — she talks about it the way she used to talk about her own cooking. That says something.
February 2025
Michael Kern
Son of resident · Munich, Germany
My father retired to Udon Thani years ago and lived independently until it was no longer safe. The written updates from Pim have been invaluable. As someone who cannot visit easily, knowing there is a named person I can write to — and that they will write back promptly and honestly — makes the distance bearable.
January 2025
Nattaporn Phomma
Niece of resident · Khon Kaen
We visited three times before my aunt moved in, and each time the house felt the same — calm, clean, and genuinely welcoming. The garden is beautiful. My aunt, who was initially reluctant to leave her home, now says the verandah in the late afternoon is one of her favourite places. That is not nothing.
January 2025
Robert Harper
Son of resident · Melbourne, Australia
Dad had been living alone in Udon Thani for five years when we realised the arrangement wasn't working any more. We found baannilel after a lot of research and two visits. The thing that convinced us was Khun Nong herself — her directness, her obvious care for the residents, and the lack of any sales pressure. Dad has been there fourteen months now.
February 2025
Wanida Thongchan
Resident · Udon Thani
I moved in after my children suggested it. I was not sure at first. But the food won me over within the first week — Mae Rung cooks the way my grandmother did, with real ingredients. The garden pond reminds me of the countryside I grew up in. I feel I belong here.
December 2024
Jean-Luc Saunier
Son of resident · Lyon, France
My mother moved to Thailand in her seventies and baannilel was recommended to us by a French expat community in Udon Thani. The English correspondence is good, which matters when you are managing things from another country. My only minor wish is for more photos in the updates, but the written content itself is thoughtful and reassuring.
January 2025
How We've Helped
Three families, three different situations
The Situation
An elderly mother living alone in Udon Thani while family was in Bangkok
Her daughter called twice a week but was worried about falls, medication timing, and whether her mother was eating properly. She could not move her mother to Bangkok against her wishes.
Our Approach
We arranged a two-week short stay first, so both mother and daughter could see whether baannilel suited. After the trial, the resident chose to stay. The daughter receives a brief update each week from Pim.
After 18 Months
The resident participates regularly in the cooking demonstration afternoons, has made a close friendship with another resident, and tells her daughter she is eating better than she has in years. The daughter visits once a month.
The Situation
A retired European man who had lived independently in Udon Thani for several years
His adult children in Germany had become increasingly worried about him living entirely alone as he entered his mid-eighties. He was resistant to the idea of moving anywhere.
Our Approach
His children arranged for him to visit the house for a meal and a walk around the garden — framed as a social visit rather than an assessment. He met Khun Nong and the other residents. He returned twice more before agreeing to move into the Full Package.
After 14 Months
His son in Germany now has consistent written communication with the house. The resident enjoys the morning market visits and has become genuinely fond of the garden. He occasionally tells his children he does not know why he waited so long.
The Situation
A couple from Khon Kaen whose elderly mother was recently widowed
After the death of her husband, their mother struggled with the quietness of her home. She needed companionship and a structure to her days more than she needed practical assistance.
Our Approach
We suggested the Shared Pond View Room, which put her alongside another resident at a similar life stage. The shared meals and verandah time created a natural social rhythm without pressure.
After 10 Months
Her children describe a noticeable change in her mood since arriving at baannilel. She and her room-mate have become good friends. She joined the Red Lotus Sea excursion in January and said it was the first time she had felt joy since her husband's passing.
Credentials
Recognised and accountable
Registered Elderly Residential Boarding House
Registered with the Thai Ministry of Social Development and Human Security as a non-medical residential boarding house for elderly residents.
Municipal Food Safety Standards
Kitchen and food preparation practices reviewed annually and maintained to Udon Thani municipal food hygiene requirements.
We Are Available
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Ready to Learn More?
We are happy to answer your questions
Whether you are just beginning to think about the options, or are ready to arrange a visit, we are here.
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