Our Story
A Home Built Around People
Baan Sabai started with a simple intention — to create a residential community where older adults could live with dignity, comfort, and genuine warmth.
Back to HomeHow We Began
Founded on a Genuine Idea
Baan Sabai was established in 2011 by Apinya Wongchai, a Chiang Mai native who spent years observing how difficult it was for older adults in Thailand — and those who had settled here from abroad — to find a residential option that felt like a proper home rather than an institution.
The original property on the outskirts of San Kamphaeng was chosen for its garden space, its quiet location, and its accessibility to central Chiang Mai. It opened with eight residents. Over the following years, the community expanded gradually — never in a hurry, always prioritising the daily experience of people already living here over fast growth.
Today, Baan Sabai houses residents from Thailand, Europe, Australia, and North America. The community remains owner-managed, and decisions about how it runs are still made by people who live on-site or in the immediate area.
Our Mission
To provide a thoughtfully managed home environment where independent older adults can live at their own pace, in a setting that values comfort, privacy, and meaningful community connection.
Our Outlook
We believe a good residential community is one where residents feel settled — not processed. That means real relationships with staff, predictable routines, and the freedom to organise each day as one chooses.
Our Values
Respect for residents' autonomy. Transparency with families. Quietness, patience, and attention. No clinical language; no institutional hurry. Just a well-managed home with a garden.
The People Here
Our Community Team
The Baan Sabai team is made up of people who have chosen community work as a vocation rather than a job. Many have been with us for five years or more.
Apinya Wongchai
Founder & Director
A Chiang Mai native with a background in community development and a long interest in the wellbeing of older adults. Apinya oversees the overall direction and daily culture of the community.
Pranee Phonsiri
Residence Manager
Pranee has managed day-to-day operations at Baan Sabai since 2014. She coordinates housekeeping, meal service, and the activity programme, and is the first point of contact for resident requests.
James Thornton
International Resident Liaison
Originally from the UK, James joined Baan Sabai in 2018 to support international residents and their families with settling in, practical Thailand questions, and ongoing communication needs.
How We Operate
Standards We Hold Ourselves To
Consistent practices matter more than policy documents. These are the operational commitments that shape every day at Baan Sabai.
Safety on the Grounds
All pathways are lit and even-surfaced. Common areas are inspected weekly. The property is fitted with smoke detection, emergency lighting, and clearly marked exit routes. Staff complete annual safety refreshers.
First Aid Readiness
At least one first-aid trained staff member is on-site at all hours. First aid supplies are maintained in key communal locations. Emergency contacts and protocols are reviewed twice yearly.
Food Hygiene
Our kitchen operates under the hygiene standards set by Chiang Mai health authorities. Kitchen staff receive food-safety training on joining and annually thereafter. Menus are reviewed monthly for nutritional balance.
Privacy & Data Care
Resident and family information is held confidentially and is not shared with external parties without consent. We follow Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act requirements and hold data only as long as necessary.
Ongoing Resident Review
We meet individually with each resident quarterly to ask about their experience. Families receive a written summary on request. We track feedback and use it to make practical adjustments to how we operate.
Cultural Openness
Baan Sabai is home to residents from a range of cultural backgrounds. We adapt routines, dietary options, and communication practices to reflect the diversity of our community, and train staff accordingly.
Senior Living in Chiang Mai — What Baan Sabai Represents
San Kamphaeng sits on the eastern edge of Chiang Mai, past the old pottery villages and into quieter residential terrain. It's a district where the pace of life is slower and where the landscape retains a genuinely rural quality — wide green margins, mountain views, and the kind of neighbourhood where people know their neighbours. For older adults seeking a home environment in northern Thailand, it offers a combination of accessibility and calm that's hard to find closer to the city centre.
Baan Sabai was built into this setting deliberately. The property's gardens were a founding priority, not an afterthought. Our team has maintained and expanded the planting over more than a decade, so that residents now move through a genuinely established garden — not a landscaped display, but a place with shade, texture, and the kind of settled character that takes years to develop.
For families making decisions about a parent's or partner's living situation, we understand the weight of that conversation. We welcome unhurried visits, detailed questions, and as much time as needed before any decision is made. The right place should feel right, not merely adequate — and we're content to wait for that match.
Come and See the Community
A visit to Baan Sabai is the best way to understand whether it's the right setting. We keep time for this, and there's no rush.
Arrange a Visit