Subsidy programs would to be expanded for 74 townships that still need long-term healthcare facilities for elderly people, with the goal of increasing elderly care capacity by 6,500 beds by 2027, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said on Aug. 24.
The ministry has allocated a NT$10 billion (US$313,86 million) budget for the project, Long-term Healthcare Department deputy director Wu Hsi-wen (吳希文) said.
The ministry’s past subsidy programs focused on providing areas devoid of long-term healthcare facilities for elderly people with governmental establishments, Wu said.
Photo: Lin Hui-chin, Taipei Times
The difference with this particular subsidy program is that it is not exclusive to local government agencies, she said.
Natural or legal persons established by public or private enterprises — even private schools with nursing or long-term health care education — can apply for the subsidy, Wu said.
The subsidy amount depends on the applicant, with government or government-private collaborations being eligible to receive up to NT$2.1 million per individual, and facilities specially established to house or care for people with dementia are eligible to receive up to NT$2.2 million, she said.
Private establishments with housing facilities can apply for up to NT$1.5 million per individual in subsidies, while facilities caring for people with dementia can apply for up to NT$1.6 million, she added.
A government agency establishing a facility that can house 200 individuals and care for people with dementia can apply for up to NT$440 million in subsidies, she said.
Subsidized facilities would need to reserve 10 percent of their capacity to receive individual cases sponsored or paid for by local governments, Wu said, adding that the subsidy program aims to augment the social welfare side of the industry.
Subsidies are open for applications starting from this month, with the second phase planned to start in November, she said.
Taiwan currently has 115,000 beds dedicated to long-term health care, and the department hopes the program would promote the establishment of more premium-grade caretaking facilities closer to elderly people in need, she said.
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