Taiwan became an aged society in March 2018, and is on course to become a hyper-aged society by 2026. To adapt to the enormous rising need for long-term care and to mitigate the burden of family caregivers, the government launched the 10-year Long-term Care Plan 2.0 in 2017. The plan actively expands home, community and residential care services; promotes a new subsidy schedule to support customized care plans; and strengthens comprehensive community care systems. These initiatives create a quality, affordable and accessible long-term care system that meets the diverse needs of the people of Taiwan.
The 2.0 plan's features and measures
■ Community-based, three-tier system to promote aging in place: To provide the public with integrated, flexible and convenient care services close to home, the plan established a three-tier system consisting of community-based integrated service centers (Tier A), combined service centers (Tier B), and long-term care stations in alleys and lanes (Tier C).
■ Expanded coverage and services: In addition to people with disabilities age 65 or over, the plan covers indigenous people with disabilities age 55 or over, people with dementia age 50 or over, and individuals of any age with a disability card or other proof of mental or physical disability. New services have also been added, ranging from early preventive care to minimize and delay the onset of disabilities, to palliative care later on in life.
■ Easy-to-find, easy-to-access services: Long-term care management centers and branch offices have been set up in 22 counties and cities across the nation, while a "1966" long-term care hotline provides service consultation.
■ New subsidy schedule, customized care plans: Long-term care services have been consolidated into four categories, and care plans can be tailored to the specific needs of each patient. Government subsidies are now paid according to the services provided—rather than simply the number of care hours—to increase efficiency of care delivery.
■ Lighter burdens for families of physically or mentally disabled people: Amendments to the Income Tax Act have added a special deduction for households with a disabled family member needing long-term care. In addition, the government has established a subsidy plan for users of residential long-term care institutions, and eased restrictions on respite care services for households employing foreign caregivers.
■ Higher-quality residential long-term care institutions: A government program to reward quality care at residential long-term care institutions is encouraging greater adoption of information technologies to meet the needs of moderately to severely disabled individuals and their families.
■ Stronger community preventive care service networks: The plan focuses on expanding primary prevention services for frail, sub-healthy and healthy seniors, integrating local service resources and organizing classes to support health and stave off disability.
■ Age-friendly health care institutions: The plan promotes a certification system for age-friendly health care organizations to enhance the availability of higher-quality, senior-friendly environments.