The Ministry of Health and Welfare participated in the Assistive Technology for Life exhibition running April 10-13 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, highlighting government efforts to boost the long-term care industry.
According to the MOHW, staff will be holding lectures on topics spanning assistive devices, dementia and family care while also providing consultations on applications for long-term care and for subsidized assistive devices. The MOHW booth will also display information about the successful results of related government policies, the ministry said.
The ministry is sparing no effort in the promotion of its Long-term Care Plan 2.0, it said, citing the fourfold increase in the long-term care service coverage rate to nearly 85 percent from 2016 to 2024 as evidence. The ministry added that the amendment of the long-term care service application and payment regulation announced in last October will include smart assistive devices and noted that citizens could rent devices under the new system, which was inspired by a similar initiative in Japan.
The MOHW also implemented a plan last year to encourage day care centers to use technological assistive devices to improve their care recipients’ independent living abilities, the ministry said, adding that a similar project for residential care institutions was also set in motion to facilitate a safe environment and reduce staff workload through the establishment of information systems and smart care technology.
The ministry will continue to take advantage of opportunities like ATLife to work with academics and businesses to foster smart technology applications in long-term care services and develop innovative solutions, it said, adding that it is committed to providing more diverse devices and services to help all centers and institutions reach the country’s smart health care goals. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw