The Vocational Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Taichung City of Eden Foundation which is implementing the “2026 Support Services for Family Caregivers of Persons with Disabilities Integrate Project (Zone 3),” recently held the “It’s okay to take It slow—horticultural therapy and stress-relief course” at the Shalu Labor Recreation Center. The event invited family caregivers to temporarily set aside the pressures of long-term care through horticultural activities, allowing them to find a moment of respite and achieve physical and mental relaxation amidst the greenery and nature.
Centered on the theme of “horticultural therapy,” the event featured instruction by Professor Hui-wen Tsai from Nanhua University. Throughout the session, caregivers displayed expressions of joy and relaxation. The hands-on activities also provided opportunities for interaction and exchange with fellow caregivers. After the event, participants unanimously expressed that the stress-relief activity was deeply relaxing and enjoyable, they described a sense of stress relief and healing, noting that caregivers truly need such activities to temporarily step away from their busy, high-pressure caregiving lives. They also expressed deep gratitude to the organizer for their thoughtful planning and for arranging such a wonderful event and instructor.
As services for persons with disabilities gradually shift toward community-based care, families have become the core of the caregiving system. However, family caregivers who bear long-term caregiving responsibilities often face challenges such as heavy physical and mental burdens, accumulated emotional stress, and insufficient social support. Eden stated that for many caregivers, long-term dedication to caregiving not only affects their own health condition and quality of life but also leaves them vulnerable to isolation and a cycle of stress. Therefore, through this program, we have designed diverse support services with the hope of assisting caregivers enhance their awareness of self-care and their ability to manage stress.
To enable caregivers to attend activities outside the home, temporary respite services are provided during these events. Professional staff offer safe supervision, allowing caregivers to participate with peace of mind and alleviating the dilemma of being unable to leave home due to the need to care for the care recipient. Since the professionals lead small activities and interact with the service users during the respite sessions, many caregivers have expressed that not only do they look forward to participating, but the care recipients also eagerly anticipate joining in the fun.
With the core objectives of “enhancing caregiving capabilities, strengthening emotional support, fostering social connections, and promoting self-care,” Eden assists family caregivers in achieving a balance between caregiving and self-care through diverse formats such as stress-relief activities, support groups, and educational courses. Moving forward, Eden will continue to address the needs of family caregivers in the Coastal Area by connecting them with relevant local resources, raising public awareness of support services and welfare resources for caregivers, assisting to maintain stable family functioning, and ultimately improving their quality of life.
