At the 23rd meeting of the Executive Yuan's Social Welfare Promotion Committee today, Premier Mao Chi-kuo urged government agencies to devote more resources to creating a comprehensive safety net for family and elder care.
To ensure better care for the nation's rapidly aging population, the government has already implemented the National Health Insurance program and various pension and annuity plans. Along with the recently passed Long-term Care Services Act, the Executive Yuan is also pushing an accompanying long-term care insurance bill to help fund the care services into the future. The bill is expected to go to the Legislative Yuan soon.
Only 16.5 percent of the elderly population have disabilities that require long-term resources, while the remaining 83.5 percent are in fact healthy or relatively healthy, Mao said. Hence, Taiwan needs community care centers to offer health programs, senior activities and meal services. The idea is to create a friendly, energetic, healthy and happy environment where seniors are not only self-sufficient but can care for others as well.
At the meeting, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) reported on changes to family policies. At present, Taiwan loses about 150,000 to 200,000 laborers each year as people are entering the workforce later and exiting earlier. One reason people leave earlier is to become full-time caregivers for older family members with physical or mental impairments. The premier asked the Ministry of Labor to formulate a mechanism to help find part-time jobs for those willing to return to work. In addition, the breakdown of family functions has also created many social problems such as drug use and related issues. The premier instructed agencies to use creative means to address the problems under their jurisdictions.
The MOHW also reported on the progress of the white paper on the aging society, which is being compiled under the supervision of Minister without Portfolio Feng Yen. Premier Mao said the paper will provide a policy framework for developing suitable care for disabled, healthy or relatively healthy seniors, as well as for helping older workers to return to the job market.
Suitable care could be provided through government social services or the free market, Mao pointed out. Disabled seniors would be covered by the two long-term care acts, while economically disadvantaged seniors are aided by social services. Healthy or relatively healthy seniors who are financially capable can consider moving into retirement communities, which operate on the free market.
As for helping older workers rejoin the workforce, Premier Mao said much can be learned from overseas examples. At German automaker BMW, for instance, executives above a certain age are required to take retirement but can stay on at half their salaries and continue sharing their experiences. This policy not only retains the expertise of older workers but also makes room for younger people to move up.
Although similar practices have yet to be seen in Taiwan, the premier encouraged agencies to plan specific programs and measures to help address the graying society. The premier instructed the MOHW to make needed revisions to the white paper and finalize the draft for the Cabinet's deliberation.
Also at today's meeting, the committee offered recommendations on integrating the care provider training and hiring system and on incorporating foreign care workers into the home care system. The premier said both of these issues fall under the long-term care services system, and asked the MOHW and other agencies to map out finer measures and regulations on care resources, facilities and personnel training.