The Huashan Social Welfare Foundation opened a new station in Taoyuan County’s Pingzhen City March 23, with facilities to care for more than 80 patients living on their own with dementia, diminishing abilities or no one to rely on.
Foundation social worker Xu Fang-yu said all the services provided by the organization are free of charge. This includes home care visits to shut-ins, assistance with tasks at home and helping the elderly get to medical appointments. Huashan has also developed a new method of providing bed baths to let those who are mobility-impaired enjoy getting clean using foam, without getting hot water all over their beds, and without having to be moved into the bathroom.
Xu said countywide there are more than 1,000 elderly persons with cognitive issues, physical challenges or no one to care for them. There are more than 80 in Pingzhen City alone, and there may be even more cases that have not yet come to light. Huashan is calling on local residents to keep an eye out on their neighbors and provide leads so that the foundation can provide home services for those who require them.
Huashan runs over 200 care stations in Taiwan, Xu said, with a dozen in Taoyuan County alone, and one planned for next year in Fuxing Township. It hopes to set up additional stations to cover every town and village in Taiwan.
(This article originally appeared in The Liberty Times March 24.)