Taiwan is on the verge of becoming a super-aged society, with over 4.66 million seniors aged 65 and above. Coupled with the prevalence of dementia, long-term care may become a challenge for every family. Faced with the various issues brought by aging, both seniors and caregivers feel equally helpless. When caregiving pressures, financial burdens, and resource shortages pile up, the seemingly endless journey of long-term care risks crushing entire families.
On the 6th of Nov., Eden Foundation held a press conference for the “With you, through thousands of days.” Care Service Programs for Older Persons at the Taipei Upgrade Business Center. The initiative aims to become a reliable partner for long-term care families by providing the most everyday, localized, and enduring services and companionship. Mr. Tien-Yuang Ho, Vice CEO of Eden Foundation, Ms. Ke-Li Miao, Charity Ambassador and senior representative Uncle Kuo-Fu from the Day Care Center, along with his wife, attended the press conference. They urged families navigating long-term care to utilize available resources and seek help courageously, allowing professionals to share the burden so that long-term care does not become a family's sole responsibility.
Eden Foundation launch the Care Service Programs for Older Persons, urging long-term care families to seek professional assistance while inviting the public to accompany them with love for thousands of days.
According to Ministry of Health and Welfare data, approximately 350,000 persons aged 65 and above currently live with dementia in Taiwan. Projections indicate this number will reach 680,000 by 2041—equivalent to one new senior dementia case every 30 minutes. Dementia patients experience varying emotional and cognitive impairments due to the disease, often leading to multiple complications and physical deterioration caused by disability. Faced with unique symptoms and disease progression, caregivers must constantly adapt and struggle to keep up.
As a caregiver herself, Ms. Ke-Li Miao openly shared her experiences caring for her father, who suffered from Parkinson's disease and dementia symptoms. Ms. Miao explained that when her father experienced hallucinations, she would act alongside him, using her acting skills. She emphasized that the most important thing now is to give her father her fullest love, leaving no regrets. She also encourages caregivers: “Though long-term care is a long journey, remember you are not alone. Many organizations in society can support you along the way.”
Eden Charity Ambassador Ms. Ke-Li Miao, alongside senior representative Uncle Kuo-Fu and caregiver representative Auntie Shang-Mei, encourages long-term care families to seek professional services to reduce caregiver burden and enjoy family time together.
Uncle Kuo-Fu is 86-year-old and dedicated his career to education. After graduating from a teacher training college, he served for many years at an elementary school as the Director of student affairs. In retirement, he pursued self-improvement through mountaineering clubs, Japanese language societies, and health seminars. His days were filled with arm-swinging exercises, reading newspapers, and practicing calligraphy. However, ten years ago, he began showing signs of dementia. Compounded by the pandemic outbreak, he lost nearly all social connections and gradually lost interest in his former hobbies. He often just wanted to lie in bed sleeping, and began exhibiting wandering behavior. He even started opening doors to go outside at night, getting lost several times and causing his family great anxiety.
Upon a neighbor's recommendation, Uncle came to Eden YiFu Community-Based Long-Term Care Service Center, Taipei City. During his first visit, he was in the early stages of dementia, somewhat irritable, and strongly resistant to the new environment, so he returned to family care. Last year, his 82-year-old wife gradually found the 24-hour caregiving burden too much to bear, prompting another attempt to bring Uncle to the daycare center. After a five-day adjustment period, Uncle Kuo-Fu agreed to stay, finally giving his wife some respite.
At the daycare center, a professional care team provides companionship. With structured schedules for courses, meals, and socializing with peers, he returns home each evening to bathe and sleep. This routine has stabilized Uncle Kuo-Fu's daily life, maintaining his physical abilities and managing his dementia effectively. With daytime care provided and his wandering at night eliminated, the caregiver burden assessment form from the daycare center shows that two months after enrollment, his wife's stress levels have dropped by over 60%.
Uncle Kuo-Fu and his wife joined the one-day trip organized by the daycare center, lightening the caregiving load and bringing more joy to their lives.
Mr. Tien-Yuang Ho, Vice CEO of Eden Foundation, stated that this year's theme is “Knock on the hearts of the seniors, and hold space for love to grow.” Everyone encounters countless doors in life. Inside the door is often safety and a sense of belonging; outside lies the fresh and unfamiliar. Throughout life, we venture out to meet challenges and retreat behind doors to rest and recharge with loved ones. Yet as we age, acquaintances gradually fade away. Many seniors stop opening their doors or stepping outside, becoming isolated islands within society. Eden delivers care with love right to their doorsteps, encouraging everyone to embrace new beginnings. In this era where longevity is celebrated, we offer seniors the chance to reignite their lives.
As Taiwan faces an increasingly aging future, Eden extends professional support by entering the homes of 30,000 seniors annually to provide home-based care services. Nearly 400 seniors in our daycare centers, and we deliver nutritious meals to over 40,000 seniors, ensuring every family in need finds the most suitable way to share family time with their seniors. We urge the public to support our “Care Service Programs for Older Persons” through regular donations. Starting today, monthly donations of NT$300 or more will receive a limited-edition postcard handcrafted by Ms. Ke-Li Miao and our senior service users. Together, knock on the hearts of the seniors, and hold space for love to grow. Support hotline: 0800-025-885, or visit the “Care Service Programs for Older Persons: Keeping the Seniors’ Company with Love for Thousands of Days” donation page.
Through professional, localized services, Eden accompanies every long-term care family on their journey of joyful aging.
