Our Story
Built With Care,
Run With Heart
baansawadivs was established by a small group of people who believed older adults in Thailand — and those who choose to spend their later years here — deserved more than institutional accommodation. They deserved a home.
Back to HomeWho We Are
The baansawadivs Story
baansawadivs — meaning "home of welcome" in Thai — was founded in Chiang Mai's Hang Dong district in 2015. The founders, longtime residents of northern Thailand, had spent years watching older family members navigate the limited choices available for senior living: returning abroad, moving into clinical facilities, or trying to manage independently in homes no longer suited to them.
They wanted something different. Something that felt like a neighbourhood house rather than a residential unit. Somewhere with a garden you could actually sit in, meals worth looking forward to, and staff who remembered your preferences without being prompted.
Since opening, baansawadivs has welcomed residents from across Thailand and from over a dozen other countries. Some come for a week-long visit to see if community living appeals to them. Others have made it their permanent home. What they tend to share is an appreciation for quiet comfort, good company, and a pace of life that does not rush them.
Our Mission
To provide a genuine home environment — warm, unhurried, and attentive — where older adults in Chiang Mai can live well and on their own terms.
Our Vision
A community where the later years are approached with openness and quiet confidence — where connection, routine, and beauty in the everyday make a real difference.
Our Values
Respect for pace. Honesty about what we offer. Attention without intrusion. A sense that every person here belongs.
The People Here
Our Team
A small, consistent group of people who have chosen this work because they find meaning in it.
Siriporn Phothong
Residence Director
Over fifteen years working in community care environments across Thailand. Siriporn oversees daily operations and ensures the residence genuinely reflects the values it was founded on.
David Worthington
Community Coordinator
A British national who has called Chiang Mai home for over a decade. David coordinates social programmes, family communications, and the orientation process for new residents.
Nanthawan Araya
Head of Resident Wellbeing
Nanthawan works closely with each resident to understand their preferences, routines, and daily needs. Her approach is attentive but never intrusive — she has a gift for knowing when someone simply needs quiet company.
How We Operate
Our Standards & Approach
We hold ourselves to clear internal standards — not because we are required to, but because we think it matters.
Resident Privacy
Personal information and individual circumstances are handled with care and shared only where the resident has consented. We do not discuss residents' details openly.
Food Safety & Quality
All meals are prepared daily from fresh produce. Our kitchen follows safe food handling standards and is able to accommodate a range of dietary requirements with advance notice.
Property Maintenance
The grounds, rooms, and shared spaces are kept to a standard we would want for our own families. Issues are addressed promptly rather than deferred.
Staff Conduct
All staff members complete an orientation on respectful communication with older adults. Continued feedback from residents and families shapes how we work.
Transparent Agreements
All stay arrangements are documented clearly, with pricing and inclusions written in plain language. We encourage families to ask questions before committing.
Non-Medical Scope
We are clear about what we offer. baansawadivs provides a social, residential environment — not nursing or medical care. We communicate this honestly from the first enquiry.
Our Approach
Senior Living in Chiang Mai, on Your Own Terms
Hang Dong is one of Chiang Mai's most naturally appealing districts — less urban than the Old City, with easy access to markets, temples, and the forested hills above the valley. baansawadivs sits within this setting intentionally. The surrounding environment shapes the quality of daily life here in ways that are hard to replicate indoors.
We work with residents individually to understand what a good day looks like for them. Some want structure — a full activity calendar and regular group meals. Others prefer solitude and join the community only when it suits them. Both are equally welcome. The pace at baansawadivs is shaped by the people living here, not by a timetable on a notice board.
Come and See the Residence
We are happy to arrange a tour at a time that suits you — for prospective residents, family members, or anyone simply curious about what life here looks like.
Get in Touch