As Taiwan confronts challenges related to promoting the health of the elderly and adapting society to their needs, locally attuned strategies are taking on increased importance. Taiwan is less than four years from becoming a super-aged society, meaning 20% of its citizens will be over 65 years old. As the birth rate continues to decline,…
Insufficient government budget for senior care and a system that overworks and underpays foreign caregivers do not bode well for Taiwan’s elderly as their proportion of the population continues to increase. A public hearing in Taipei on August 6 addressed a Ministry of Labor (MOL) proposal to temporarily suspend the right of migrant caregivers to…
The Apple Watch was recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a medical device, a landmark for a wearable device aimed at consumers. Able to monitor heart rates and perform electrocardiograms (EKG), the Apple Watch is the latest example of advances in the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and…
Taiwan is on track to become a “super-aged” society with 20% of the population over the age of 65 by 2025. This process will have an enormous impact throughout the economy, ranging from healthcare to robotics to housing and the food industry. The discussion of the aging population often centers on the drain that senior…
Lack of demand stymies a sector that would seemingly be ripe for development in rapidly aging Taiwan. The Chang Gung Health and Cultural Village retirement facility has the feel of a college campus. Set amid the wooded hills of Taoyuan County, the sprawling complex has numerous sports and leisure facilities, dining halls and restaurants, convenience…
The rise in the number of elderly in Taiwan is often broadly couched as a demographic and economic challenge. But for the millions of families struggling to care for frail and disabled family members, the struggle is all too personal. Confucian cultural values of “filial piety” forbid the placement of elders in retirement homes or…
To succeed, the Taiwan government’s plan must overcome fiscal, talent, and cultural challenges. In April this year, Taiwan passed the threshold to officially become an aged society, with more than 14% of the population older than 65. That trend is set to accelerate over the next decade. By 2026, 21% of the population will be…
