Occupancy rates indicate that the idea of living in homes for elderly people is not popular among Taiwanese, with those aged 65 or over preferring to live with their families in retirement, while some favor living alone, as long as they do not have serious health problems.
In view of the aging population, medical institutions and construction companies have been developing senior home communities and care centers across the nation.
However, high occupancy rates in some facilities is no evidence of their popularity, because the number of elderly people living in such communities is relatively small — less than 15 percent of the aged population in Taiwan, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of the Interior in 2013.
Privately operated facilities such as Chang Gung Health and Culture Village are open only to people in reasonably good health who can take care of themselves, and the monthly charge of about NT$20,000 for a 45m2 room for a single person, or NT$31,000 for a 72m2 room for two, is expensive for the average pensioner.
The survey showed that only 14.5 percent of people aged 65 or above and in good health were living in homes for elderly people, while those who need care more often live in care centers.
About 45 percent of elderly people who are ill are checked in to public or private care centers by their families, it showed.
Government statistics show that rural areas have a higher percentage of elderly people. Among the nation’s 22 cities and counties, Nantou, Yunlin and Chiayi have the highest percentage of people aged over 65, with 15 percent, 16 percent and 17 percent respectively. The 2.8 million people aged 65 or older account for nearly 12 percent of the nation’s population.
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