Page 123 - 2024 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report
P. 123

09 | Social Welfare






                  3. In 2023, collaboration with non-governmental   society. The MOHW unveiled the four major prospects of
                    organizations was initiated to promote community   autonomy, self-reliance, communion, and sustainment.
                    therapeutic services, ensuring the rights and well-  Furthermore, in order to concretely implement the
                    being of children with developmental delays and   various policy objectives of the White Paper on an Aging
                    their families. A total of 119 community therapeutic   Society, and on November 10, 2022, the "Strategy Plan
                    centers were established, providing services in 363   for Addressing the Challenges of a Super-Aged Society"
                    townships and urban areas, with a coverage rate of   was approved. It is estimated that over a period of four
                    98.64%.                                       years (2023-2026), a budget of more than NTD 26.8
                                                                  billion will be allocated and 345 important projects will be
                  Section 4  Services for Families with
                                                                  promulgated in 2023. Through public-private collaboration
                              Special Needs                       and interdisciplinary cooperation, active responses will be
                  1. Adoption matching services: Starting from May 30,   made to the diverse needs of the elderly.
                    2012, all adoptions of children and youth must be
                    handled by an approved adoption matching service   Section 1 Income Security for the Elderly
                    agency. As of the end of 2023, there were eight   Based on the economic conditions of low- and
                    approved adoption matching service agencies (with   middle-income elderly households, a monthly living
                    12 service centers). These agencies matched 202   allowance of NTD 3,879 or NTD 7,759 per person is
                    children with adoptive parents in 2023 (102 were   provided. In 2023, allowances were issued to a total of
                    adopted domestically and 100 overseas).       208,407 people (accounting for 4.85% of the elderly
                                                                  population) to ensure economic security and maintain
                  2. Assistance for Families in Hardship: In 2023,   basic living standards.
                    emergency assistance for livelihood, children living
                    allowance, children nursery allowance, medical   Section 2  Health Care for the Elderly
                    subsidy, subsidy of litigation, children education        Fees Subsidization
                    allowance, and career development loan are    1. In order to reduce the economic barrier to health
                    available for families in hardship. There were 17,439   care due to NHI premiums and copayments for
                    families receiving these benefits for a total of   elder people with economic difficulties, premiums
                    129,100 times, with total subsidies exceeding NTD   are fully subsidized for lower-middle income elderly
                    464,500,000.                                    persons aged 70 and above. In 2023, these
                  3. Support for Pregnant Women Under the Age       subsidies were provided to 112,196 people.
                    of 20: A teen pregnancy hotline (0800-25-     2. To subsidize the denture installation for near poor
                    7085) and website (https://257085.sfaa.gov.tw/)   senior citizens, we introduce eight subsidization
                    was established. In 2023, the hotline provided   plans based on the missing tooth condition of
                    counseling services to 1,431 individuals, while the   senior citizens to meet individual needs. In 2023, a
                    website had 267,938 visitors and received 437   total of 5,785 elderly people were benefited.
                    letters and online consultations. Each county and
                    city also implemented case management services   Section 3 Care for Elder People
                    for pregnant teenagers or parents under the age of   1. To compensate near poor families for losing
                    20, serving a total of 13,945 individuals in 2023.  economic gains from sacrificing employment to take

                                                                    care of elderly family, an elderly care allowance of
                  Chapter 3 Welfare for the Elderly                 NTD 5,000 each month was provided for families
                      In March 2018, Taiwan became an aged society.   with elderly people requiring special care. In 2023, a
                  By the end of December 2023, the elderly population   total of 5,406 instances were benefited.
                  4,296,985 people, accounting for 18.35% of the total   2. To enhance care for elderly individuals living alone,
                  population. In response to the trend towards an aged   24-hour emergency rescue services have been
                  society, the MOHW planned a new aged social policy   provided. In 2023, 51,695 elderly individuals
                  blueprint. On September 27, 2021, the Executive Yuan   living alone received care services, and 5,571
                  approved the amendment of the white paper of aging   economically disadvantaged elderly individuals



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