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Eden Social Welfare Foundation
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2019-10-15

The future needs for senior’s care...

Aging is not reversible, and Taiwan has entered an aging society. The long-term care needs are increasing. When population grows old, who will take care of them? How to live well in senior life so seniors will feel belongings and age in healthy way?

seniors living along and unable to rely on others

Before the family care service crews are going to the mountains to serve the seniors that live alone, they won’t forget to ask the 80-year-old granny if she needs helps to purchase daily necessities or food ingredients, assist to bring medicine (chronic prescription), and then drive to the service user’s house in Nantou Mountain after confirmation. The curved roads in the mountain seemed to have rock falling everywhere after the storm.  An hour later, they finally arrive at granny’s house who lives alone in the deep mountain.

Granny's house doesn’t have any neighbor besides a temple 50 meters away. She still do farming with growing vegetables and weeping although her both knees degenerate. After squatting for too long, she felt down when her feet are numb.  After the injury, she now relied on crutch when moving. Tan Yu Jhen, an Eden family care service councilor in Nantou suggested her “to five up the farming lands for her health’s sake”

The service councilor only visit twice a week, so the granny who has trouble walking has to take care of her own meals every day. She doesn’t have someone to talk to when living alone. When councilor providing their services, granny often mention she missed her younger son that hasn’t meet for a long time. Councilor listened carefully and comfort her and said “Son will be back soon as long as you take good care of your health and body.” And provide emotional support to the elders.

As a long term care counselor that has to face senior with disable, Tang Yu-Jhen said emotionally “ the deeper the mountain seniors lives in, the more service they need.” She feels powerless when she sees senior’s body function decay gradually. She also hopes that when she provided services, the disabled seniors can main a regular lifestyle as a normal person. Sometimes seniors were in a bad mood, and gave a bad attitude to the counselors. However the next day, seniors were in good mood again. Counselor said “ we are just like kids trying to entertain them.” When seniors were in good mood, they often said to the counselor “I know you are the best.” A warm conversation and a smile deeply touched their heart, and they are willing to help taking care of these lonely seniors without giving back.

In addition to the care of the seniors living alone, longer life has also become a major challenge. According to Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan), the average life expectancy of men in 2017 is 77.3 years; women are 83.7 years old. By 2060, the life expectancy of men will increase to 82 years; and 99 for women. In addition to the low birth rate phenomenon, dependency ration decrease, the family members that are supposed to help taking care of each other’s decrease.

Aging population with dementia symptom has also increase sharply! According to Taiwan Alzheimer Disease Association, there are 1 demented person in every 12 people over 65 years in Taiwan, and 1 demented person in every 5 people over 80 years old. It is estimated that by the end of December 2018, there were 282,364 people with dementia in Taiwan, taken up to 1.20% of the country's total population. That ‘s 1 out of every 84 people in Taiwan has dementia.

The urgent needs for long-term care come to the fore when we face aging society. Everyone wish to live happy and healthy. Live long but live well. Establish local and healthy senior service system can guarantee free from worry when we are older.