• Project (2022/06–2023/12): Management of Care Services for Disability Prevention and Delay

Overview: To promote healthy and active aging and delay the onset of disability and disease, Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare has, since 2017, established a nationwide community health promotion network providing diverse services tailored to older adults’ lifestyles. With increasing demand for disability prevention and delay services, integration and strengthening of workforce and institutional frameworks has become critical.

This project assists the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) in systematically inventorying and managing approved disability prevention and delay service programs, including those not yet phased out. It promotes training for new instructors and review instructors to fill workforce gaps, assists local governments in establishing collaborative centers, and develops operating models linking central guidance centers with local counterparts. The project also provides professional training and guidance to local governments and program developers and oversees the solicitation and assessment of new program proposals. Overall, it aims to improve service quality and guide local governments and developers toward localized and sustainable service models, aligned with the core principles of aging in place and healthy aging.

• Project (2019/01–2019/12): Empowering Collaboration Centers for Integrating Disability Prevention and Delay Resources

Overview: In response to Taiwan’s rapidly aging population and rising long-term care needs, the government implemented Long-Term Care 2.0 in 2017, extending care services to preventive services while linking with home-based medical and palliative care. According to WHO (2013), disability is not solely caused by physical decline—unfriendly social environments, limited access to resources, and inadequate support systems can accelerate disability onset and negative health outcomes.

This project establishes community-centered, supportive environments and effective resource integration and referral mechanisms. Local health bureaus coordinate the initiative, selecting certain health centers as resource hub stations to inventory community health resources and integrate services needed by older or disabled adults. Inter-unit collaboration models are established, and through resource connection and referral systems, older adults gain access to appropriate services. To ensure sustainable local operations and respect regional characteristics, Taiwan was divided into six administrative zones, with cross-disciplinary expert teams assisting municipalities via focus groups, needs assessments, workshops, and field guidance. This approach strengthens local resource integration and referral quality, enhancing the effectiveness of community care services.