TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare will implement the long-term care 3.0 plan next year, centering on improvements to community-based care.

Taiwan has become a "super-aged society" this year, meaning one in five people is over 65, according to the National Development Council. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Thursday approved the ministry's plan, which addresses the rising need for long-term elderly care and seeks to mitigate the burden of family caregivers, per LTN.

According to deputy health minister Lue Jen-der (呂建德), the 2.0 plan released in 2016 was successful thanks to collaboration between the public and private sectors. Since 2016, the number of service providers and venues and the budget for long-term care have increased significantly.

The 3.0 plan sets out four goals. First, the ministry aims to build a care facility within a 10-minute drive of every household in Taiwan. It said the number of facilities has grown from 720 nine years ago to 15,000. 

Second, the ministry seeks to reduce waiting times for discharged patients to receive long-term care to less than one day. This means care services would be arranged before the patient is discharged. The ministry said that wait times have been shortened from 52 to four days.

Third, the ministry will better integrate hospitals and long-term care services for impaired patients. 

Lastly, it will expand long-term care access to young people with strokes. Individuals over 65, Indigenous people over 55, and people with disabilities will continue to have access to long-term care services. 

The ministry noted a rise in strokes among young people in Taiwan. Studies indicate an increase in stroke incidence for those under 45 and a higher proportion of young patients with unknown risk factors.