Date

2018.03.14

Source

Executive Yuan

Description

Taiwan is experiencing a rapid demographic shift as the population ages and birth rates continue to decline. In March 2018, the country officially became an “aged society,” with 14.05 percent of the population aged 65 years or older. To satisfy the enormous need for long-term care and lighten the burden on family caregivers, on September 29, 2016 the Executive Yuan approved a 10-year long-term care plan called long-term care 2.0, which launched on January 1, 2017.During a visit to a daytime senior care center at Cardinal Tien Hospital, Premier Lai Ching-te said that as part of long-term care 2.0, New Taipei City hosts over 800 meal kitchens, more than 400 senior social clubs, and over 200 care centers.Among these, Cardinal Tien Hospital has combined the administration of both health and social policy in establishing 13 centers that provide community-based health assistance involving the full engagement of friends, neighbors, health workers and families. The premier termed such collections of caregivers “compassion squads,” who deliver attentive, all-encompassing care to those in need, especially sufferers of dementia. He expressed hope that this approach can serve as a template for efforts at other hospitals throughout Taiwan.Pictured is Premier Lai Ching-te’s visit to a daytime elderly care center at Cardinal Tien Hospital on March 14, 2018.