Bilingual text here: https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/news/2026327W02EA?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description
雙語文字版: https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/news/2026327W02EA?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description

Our official website: ➔ https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/

Follow us on
Facebook: ➔ https://www.facebook.com/ftvformosanews
X (Twitter): ➔ https://x.com/FTV_Taiwan_News
As Taiwan enters a super-aged society, the demand for long-term care is rising, while a shortage of caregivers continues to put pressure on families and the system alike. For those caring for loved ones with dementia, the burden can be especially heavy, with little time to rest. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has rolled out a new solution, a mutual respite service that turns idle hours at care centers into shared support networks. Families take turns volunteering alongside professional caregivers, creating a cooperative model that allows each caregiver to earn valuable time off. The initiative aims to ease the strain on households by encouraging families to support one another so no one has to face the challenges of caregiving alone.

For families who have elders with dementia, getting asked the same questions over and over again is just daily life. But it can be exhausting. That’s especially so when day care centers close on the holidays and working adults don’t even get to catch a break on the weekend. That’s why Ms. Lee and Mr. Chiang decided to join a mutual respite program to take care of 80-year-old Ms. Chiang.

Lee Yu-shan
Ms. Chiang’s daughter-in-law
They find a caregiver, so she gets lunch and snacks in the afternoon. Families take turns volunteering. That’s pretty much it.

Chiang Wei-hsin
Ms. Chiang’s grandson
She gets to exercise, and an instructor plays games with them. It’s really worth it.

Ms. Chiang’s relatives take turns volunteering so that she can attend special classes. The Ministry of Health and Welfare launched the mutual respite platform as part of Taiwan’s Long-term Care Plan 3.0. Six to eight families are made into a group with one caregiver to make use of day care centers that would otherwise close on weekends. The sessions are supported by volunteers from each family, who take turns so that everyone can have some free time. Volunteering one day equals two days of rest.

Chen Cheng-fen
NTUNHS
The venues can be opened on weekends, with fees costing just NT$200 for a full day or NT$100 for half a day. Rates are free for low-income and medium-low-income families.

There are currently 50 groups set up around Taiwan. All participants have to do is sign up for a location and a time slot online. Prices are affordable, at just NT$200 for eight hours.

Lue Jen-der
Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare
It provides downtime to let caregivers rest. We’re promoting this time bank and we hope that in the future, if it is feasible, we can incorporate future time imbursements.

Families who with elders included in the Long-term Care 3.0 plan are eligible to apply and help each other get some free time to rest.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#longtermcare #respite #care #caregiver #timebank


#台灣新聞 #TaiwanNews #民視新聞 #FTV新聞 #Taiwan