Academics and representatives of NGOs demanded on Tuesday that future legislation on the establishment of a long-term care law take into consideration the needs of patients’ family members, many of whom have to give up their jobs to take care of loved ones.
Chang Chin-fen (張晉芬), a professor from National Taipei University’s Department of Social Work, said at a public hearing that some people prefer to look after sick family members instead of hiring caregivers, but they may have to give up their job as a result, as well as their labor insurance annuity, which is similar to social security for them after retirement.
She said that any future long-term care law should not neglect these people, adding that they need professional training courses and a salary, like professional caregivers.
“If the law cannot guarantee the livelihoods and welfare of these people, it would be like the law is punishing those who take responsibility for taking care of their family members,” said Chen Ying-rui (陳穎叡), secretary-general of an alliance of family caregivers.
Chen added that people who take care of ill family members also need respite care services.
They were speaking at a public hearing held by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Yang Li-huan (楊麗環) as preparation for the drafting of legislation for such a law.
In addition, academics and NGO representatives said that a gap in resources between cities and the countryside had to be addressed before any law is enacted.
“Centers should be established as a priority in remote areas of the countryside; otherwise, even if the law is enacted, people in need [in these regions] will not be able to benefit from it,” said Wu Yu-chin (吳玉琴), secretary-general of the Federation for the Welfare of the Elderly, adding that community care services vary widely across the nation.
In response, government officials who also attended the hearing agreed that it was necessary to set up a long-term care network before enacting the law, saying that it was the target of the Cabinet’s 10-year plan.
Last year, the Cabinet approved a 10-year long-term care plan, in which it plans to invest a total of NT$81.7 billion (US$2.46 billion) to deal with the problems of Taiwan’s aging society.
The plan is considered the nation’s largest social welfare program for the elderly apart from the National Pension system, according to the Government Information Office.
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