The government’s Long-term Care Plan 2.0 began trial operations Nov. 1 in nine cities, counties, special municipalities and indigenous villages across the nation as part of efforts to improve the quality and quantity of care available to Taiwan’s elderly and disabled.
The program, which utilizes public and private resources, involves establishing a community-based service network by integrating medical care, long-term care and preventative health care resources.
At an Oct. 31 Democratic Progressive Party policy coordination meeting, where 13 DPP-aligned local government heads were in attendance, President Tsai Ing-wen discussed details of the long-term care program, reiterating that it is a vital part of her administration’s efforts to ensure social stability given Taiwan’s rapidly aging society.
“Taiwan is fast becoming a super-aged society. The long-term care plan is crucial in addressing this problem,” Tsai said. “The program needs to be a quality, affordable and accessible long-term care system that will lessen the burden on Taiwan’s youth, improve quality of life and guarantee a post-retirement life of dignity.”
Of the long-term care plans submitted by local governments, nine were approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to begin trial operations Nov. 1. According to ministry figures, approximately 18,000 people will benefit from the care centers established in the nine jurisdictions.
The program’s care coverage has been expanded to include disabled persons under the age of 49, people with mild dementia over 50, disabled indigenous residents over 55 who live in low-lying areas, and infirm seniors over 65.
According to the MOHW, the long-term care facilities established under the new plan include one or two general service centers in each township, village or city, depending on population. Daycare service centers will be located in the vicinity of local junior high schools, while a high concentration of neighborhood service stations will be distributed around the nation to guarantee easy accessibility, the ministry said.
The Long-term Care Plan 2.0 is a revised edition of the original plan, dubbed version 1.0 and approved by the Executive Yuan in 2007. The new iteration was designed to have a more local-level focus, and is a step toward the government’s ultimate goal of establishing a complete chain of care, from preventative health care to community-based support services and finally late-life hospice care. (KWS-E)
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