Providing the elderly comprehensive care services that meet their needs is a government responsibility, so the Executive Yuan is determined to promote a long-term care system and give every senior citizen in Taiwan opportunities for more care and services, Premier Lin Chuan said today when visiting the Taipei City Haoran Senior Citizens Home.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), the Executive Yuan has established a long-term care promotion taskforce that will bring together the central government, local authorities and the public to review the current system and promote a "national 10-year long-term care plan 2.0." Tax revenues will be allocated to increase the program's funding, and the plan will be integrated with the rest of the health care system to provide diverse, continuous and comprehensive long-term care services.
As the Dragon Boat Festival is on June 9, Premier Lin wished the home's residents a happy holiday and brought them the festival's signature culinary fare—zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings with filling, wrapped and steamed in bamboo leaves)—as well as money for their holiday meal. In return, the premier was presented with a pottery piece named "Peace." Later he joined the residents in a workout session.
The Haoran Senior Citizens Home is the only public nursing home in Taipei City, said the MOHW. The facility, which was established in 1968, has worked with Taipei City Hospital's Yangming Branch to provide the elderly integrated health services and has also offered them a variety of counseling activities and group therapies to meet their needs. In addition to promoting healthy living and active aging, the home offers courses to encourage lifelong learning.