The nation had 5,542 centenarians on record as of September, an increase of 531 from a year earlier, the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s most recent census conducted ahead of the Double Ninth Festival yesterday showed.
The festival — the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar — is a holiday honoring elderly people.
City and county government officials yesterday observed the custom of personally visiting the household of centenarians and presenting them with a gold locket — symbolizing longevity and good fortune — as a sign of respect for centenarians.
Photo courtesy of the Taoyuan City Government
The number of centenarians in Taiwan first reached 5,000 in 2022 and rose to 5,011 last year, ministry data showed.
Funds spent to acquire the golden lockets this year totaled NT$59.8 million (US$1.86 million), up by NT$15 million from last year, the ministry said.
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT
President William Lai (賴清德) personally visited centenarian Yeh Hsu Hsiu-ying (葉徐秀英), who resides in Taoyuan’s Bade District (八德), and presented her with the golden locket, the ministry said.
Yeh Hsu was born when Taiwan was still under Japanese colonial rule and was adopted alongside her elder brother, who did not survive his childhood, the ministry said.
Yeh Hsu and her husband did not have children of their own and adopted a daughter, through whom she now has seven grandchildren, it said.
Yeh Hsu used to prepare her own food and move around freely before falling twice last year, her family said.
She now requires assistance to manage day-to-day activities and uses a wheelchair to move around, the family said.
Lai asked after her health and conveyed to her, and all elderly people in the nation, his respect and well-wishes.
Social and Family Affairs Administration Deputy Director-General Chou Tao-chun (周道君) urged the public to look after elders in their family.
HYPER-AGED
Separately, the ministry said that Taiwan is expected to officially become a hyper-aged society by next year and the government has established 4,916 community care centers nationwide.
The government has continued to update and modernize its long-term healthcare program to provide medical and hospice care for elderly people across the nation said, the ministry said.
Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang (張善政), who visited Yeh Hsu alongside the president, also presented her with a gold foil painting and wished her a happy Double Ninth Day.
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