Background: The need for long-term care is increasing because of longer life expectancies and aging populations. At present, people aged over 65 make up 10 percent of the Taiwan's population. Yet the aged population is expected to reach 20 percent in few years time. Therefore, a long-term elderly care program has been launched in Taiwan program last year to meet the rapidly increasing need for long-term care in Taiwan's aging population. It is funded by the central government and operated by local a government which provides subsidies in different amounts to eligible applicants based on the extent of their disability and their families' economic situation. People with a higher level of disability and with lower family income will be granted a higher amount of subsidy.
Aim: The aim of this study was to understand the needs of the utilization of long-term care services under the program provided by government.
Design: Elderly people who were subsidized through a long-term care management center at middle Taiwan from Oct-Dec 2008 were selected to be the study subjects. A total of 299 people were included.
Results: The results of this study showed the younger persons with disabilities also in needs of long-term care services. It was also found that those people who living alone, with the physical and mental handicap, or with cognitive impairment have higher demanding in long-term care services. The homecare service was highly acceptable, however, institutionalization relief service were low. In addition, more than 40% of the subjects were with more than four chronic diseases, and 60 % were in the risk of malnutrition.
Conclusion: The result that shows there still a slightly diversity of demanding and utilizing the services in long-term elderly care program. In order to help those disabled people appropriate, we should have a better understanding of actual demands of disable person and the reasons behind the diversity of their services utilization. Initially eligibility for these benefits should be available to all senior citizens and people are strongly suggested. Long-term care coverage should be universally available to all persons who have certain disabilities and needs.
