Taiwan next year plans to launch its first nationwide census on elderly people living independently to identify the estimated 700,000 seniors to strengthen community-based healthcare and long-term care services, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) said yesterday.
Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said on the sidelines of a healthcare seminar that the nation’s rapidly aging population and declining birthrate have made the issue of elderly people living alone increasingly pressing.
The survey, to be jointly conducted by the MOHW and the Ministry of the Interior, aims to establish baseline data and better allocate care resources, he said.
Photo: CNA
About 700,000 elderly people in Taiwan live independently, including those living alone and elderly couples living without other family members, according to local government estimates.
The government plans to allocate NT$6.2 billion (US$200 million) from a special act on national resilience to complete a full visitation program within two years, ensuring that every independent elderly person receives at least one visit, Shih said.
The census would cover all elderly people living independently, regardless of income, and assess them based on family support, health condition and ability to perform daily activities.
Seniors would be classified as high, medium or low-risk.
Those deemed high risk or in need of closer monitoring would receive tailored services such as meal delivery, regular visits or installation of emergency alert devices to help reduce deaths among elderly people living alone, Shih said.
He added that the assessment data would guide resource allocation under the 10-year Long-term Care 3.0 program, which begins next year and emphasizes integrated care centered around people, families and communities.
In addition, Shih said the MOHW plans to expand its newborn care pediatrician system — under which a designated doctor and medical team monitor children’s health up to age 3 — to cover all preschoolers up to age 6.
Designated pediatricians act as “guardian angels” who oversee children’s growth, vaccinations and preventive care, he said, adding that they can also remind parents about fluoride treatments or refer children for developmental assessments when needed.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today said that if South Korea does not reply appropriately to its request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, it would take corresponding measures to alter how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. The ministry said that it changed the nationality for South Koreans on Taiwan’s Alien Resident Certificates from “Korea” to “South Korea” on March 1, in a gesture of goodwill and based on the
Taiwanese officials were shown the first of 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday, adding the aircraft has completed an initial flight test and is expected to be delivered later this year. A delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) visited Lockheed Martin’s F-16 C/D Block 70 (also known as F-16V) assembly line in South Carolina on March 16 to view the aircraft. The jet will undergo a final acceptance flight in the US before being delivered to Taiwan, the
The New Taipei Metro's Sanyin Line and the eastern extension of the Taipei Metro's Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red Line) are scheduled to begin operations in June, the National Development Council said today. The Red Line, which terminates at Xiangshan Station, would be connected by the 1.4km extension to a new eastern terminal, Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, while the Sanyin Line would link New Taipei City's Tucheng and Yingge stations via Sanxia District (三峽). The council gave the updates at a council meeting reviewing progress on public construction projects for this year. Taiwan's annual public infrastructure budget would remain at NT$800 billion (US$25.08 billion), with NT$97.3
RSS