Families in Taiwan call for reopening of nursing homes amid care woes
People increasingly stressed having to juggle work with caring for seniors, dementia patients
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Families around the country are urging the resumption of services at nursing and dementia care centers, which have been closed for nearly two months due to COVID-19 restrictions.
There are 547 long-term care facilities and 494 institutions for dementia patients in Taiwan. About 24,000 households have been affected by the closures, and a survey suggests 60 percent of people in these households have felt the strain.
A petition asking the public to write to President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) demanding the expedited reopening of these facilities has received support from 359 residents in two days. The campaign was jointly mounted by the Taiwan Association of Family Caregivers, the Taiwan Alzheimer Disease Association, the Federation for the Welfare of the Elderly, and the Taiwan Home Service Strategic Alliance, reported UDN.
People have complained about the difficulty of dealing with the needs of parents with dementia while having to earn a living. There are also questions about the government policy to keep the facilities shuttered even though most staff members have been vaccinated.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare is slated to hold discussions on the matter on Wednesday (July 14). The slight relaxation of COVID regulations Tuesday (July 13) will see sports and cultural venues open for business conditionally, per the Central Epidemic Command Center.
