Taiwan – Elderly Care

How are elderly people regarded and treated in Taiwan?

Taiwan’s relationship with ageing is profoundly influenced by Confucian principles, which place a strong moral obligation on adult children to honour, support, and look after their parents as they grow older. This cultural expectation means that the family unit continues to serve as the primary caregiving foundation for many older Taiwanese. The majority of elderly people — over 60 percent — rely on relatives for their care needs, while roughly 18 percent receive assistance from professional carers and approximately 6.72 percent draw on home or community-based services.

Nevertheless, sweeping demographic shifts are challenging these longstanding assumptions. Although close to 55.5% of Taiwan’s older population continues to live under the same roof as their adult children, the rising participation of women in paid employment and the shrinking ratio of available caregivers to those requiring support have cast doubt on families’ capacity to sustain care for a growing disabled elderly population. This pressure has served as a catalyst for substantial government investment in formal care provision.

Taiwan’s entry into “super-aged” society in 2025 — driven by greater longevity and persistently low birth rates — places it in the same category as Japan and many European nations. Unlike systems that depend heavily on private insurance (as in parts of the United States) or means-tested local authority provision (as seen in certain parts of the UK), Taiwan has shifted towards a tax-funded model of long-term care that is universally accessible and integrates both public funding and active family and community participation.

What distinguishes Taiwan is its pairing of universal National Health Insurance with well-developed community social services and an enthusiastic embrace of assistive technologies. Older people generally command considerable public respect, and government policy prioritises enabling independent living and community engagement over early admission to residential institutions.

What state or publicly funded elderly care is available in Taiwan?

In response to rapidly escalating demand for long-term care and the growing strain on family caregivers, the government introduced the 10-year Long-Term Care Plan 2.0 in 2017. This initiative significantly broadened the scope of home, community, and residential services. A key structural change in this reform was the shift away from a social insurance model towards a system funded through general taxation — an approach broadly aligned with Nordic countries, where long-term care is financed publicly rather than through compulsory individual contributions.

The 2.0 plan created a three-tier network of community-based resources designed to support ageing in place: community-based integrated service centres (Tier A), combined service centres (Tier B), and neighbourhood-level long-term care stations (Tier C). These local hubs deliver an array of services — including home visits, day care, meal provision, rehabilitation, and respite care — bringing support directly into people’s own communities.

The 2.0 programme covers older adults aged 65 and above with disabilities, indigenous residents aged 55 and older with disabilities, individuals aged 50 and above living with dementia, and people of any age holding a disability card or other recognised proof of mental or physical impairment. Eligibility for a specific tier of care is determined through an assessment carried out by a local long-term care centre.

Over the course of Long-Term Care 2.0, the government demonstrated a remarkable capacity for rapid expansion. The number of care facilities grew twentyfold to nearly 15,000, the care workforce quadrupled to reach 100,000 workers, and average waiting times fell from close to two months to just four days. Public satisfaction with services remained consistently high throughout, staying near 90 percent.

The 10-year Long-Term Care Plan 3.0 is scheduled to begin in 2026. Building on the foundational values of the preceding phase — community-based delivery, person-centred care, and continuity of support — the third plan will pursue eight strategic objectives oriented around healthy ageing, enabling people to age in their own homes and communities, and ensuring a dignified end of life.

The central government body responsible for long-term care policy is the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW). Eligibility criteria, funding arrangements, and service listings are subject to regular revision; always consult the MOHW’s official website or contact the national Long-Term Care hotline (1966) for the most up-to-date guidance.

What residential, care home, and nursing home options exist in Taiwan?

Taiwan’s residential care landscape spans a wide range of options, from sheltered independent living arrangements through to full nursing home and specialist dementia care. Assisted living institutions collectively support approximately 84,000 people aged 65 or older, alongside roughly 14,000 individuals aged 55 to 64. Of those in institutional settings, 48.45 percent reside in designated long-term care facilities, 38.35 percent in nursing homes, and 6.39 percent in homes operated by the Veterans Affairs Council. A further 3.74 percent live in facilities for people with disabilities, while 3.07 percent are accommodated in specialist dementia care facilities.

At the less intensive end of the spectrum, sheltered and assisted-living apartments are available across many cities. In Taipei, Yang-Ming Senior Apartment and Julung Senior Citizens Apartment are publicly owned but privately managed residential facilities that provide accommodation and basic support to seniors over 65 who have been registered Taipei City residents for more than one year. Comparable publicly operated housing options can be found in other major cities throughout Taiwan.

For those requiring more substantial support, nursing homes and long-term residential care facilities are widely distributed across the country. The Ministry of Health and Welfare operates 26 hospitals that deliver integrated long-term care to elderly residents, and the government has earmarked NT$4 billion to expand this programme further. The ministry-affiliated Keelung Hospital’s long-term care residential unit was the first established under this initiative, with facilities subsequently opening in Taitung and Hualien. The government plans to bring 14 additional facilities online before 2029, collectively providing affordable long-term care to 2,000 more elderly citizens.

The MOHW has actively promoted dedicated dementia services, establishing Support Centres for People with Dementia and their Families in 2017. Taiwan’s Dementia Plan has since created numerous such support centres alongside Integrated Dementia Care Centres across the island. The Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Long-Term Care Centre in Taoyuan is a prominent example of a hospital-affiliated facility offering both general long-term care and specialist dementia services.

Regulation and inspection of care facilities is the joint responsibility of the MOHW and local government health and social welfare departments. Oversight, monitoring, and accreditation of long-term care institutions have been integrated into the routine functions of local government. All facilities must be registered and are subject to periodic inspections; accreditation details are published on the MOHW’s website.

How much does elderly care cost in Taiwan?

The expense associated with elderly care in Taiwan depends considerably on whether the individual benefits from public subsidies or relies on private funding, the nature and intensity of care required, and the location. Because Taiwan’s long-term care system is financed through taxation, eligible individuals are responsible for only a fraction of the total service cost. Prior to the launch of LTC 2.0, users were required to contribute 30% of care fees as co-payments; this proportion was reduced to approximately 16% under LTC 2.0 (as of 2020).

The government subsidises elderly care costs in proportion to each individual’s income and assets. Some elderly people may qualify to receive services at no direct charge, while others will be asked to contribute a portion of their income towards the cost of their care. Government subsidies help ease the financial burden on families, though they may not meet the full cost of care in all cases, and families may need to supplement these contributions with personal funds.

In the area of residential long-term care, current policy debates indicate that existing institutional subsidies have stood at approximately NT$10,000 per month, with proposals to raise this figure to NT$30,000 per month to more adequately cover accommodation expenses — reflecting the reality that out-of-pocket residential costs remain a source of financial pressure for some households. Prospective residents should obtain a current fee schedule directly from providers and consult the MOHW or their local long-term care centre for published cost guidance, as figures are subject to revision with each budget cycle.

The private care market, particularly premium retirement communities, represents the upper end of the pricing range. Costs in large urban centres such as Taipei typically exceed those in smaller regional cities. Facilities offering hotel-quality amenities and personalised services can command significantly higher monthly fees. Home care services accessed through the LTC programme tend to be more cost-effective for eligible residents than full residential placement. Individuals should contact facilities directly for current pricing information, as charges are not uniformly disclosed.

Can expats access elderly care in Taiwan, and are there any restrictions?

The extent to which foreign nationals can access Taiwan’s publicly funded long-term care system is more limited than for citizens, though the policy landscape is changing. The LTC 3.0 programme is anticipated to broaden eligibility to encompass foreign nationals holding permanent residency and engaged in professional or mid-level skilled occupations. As of late 2024, this extension was being actively deliberated as part of the LTC 3.0 planning process — the MOHW should be consulted for the most current confirmed eligibility criteria.

Enrolment in Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) is a distinct but closely related matter. All Taiwanese citizens are required to participate in NHI, as are individuals who remain in Taiwan for more than four months. Foreign nationals holding valid Alien Resident Certificates (ARCs) who have been resident in Taiwan for six months or longer are generally obliged to enrol in NHI and pay the associated premiums. NHI covers the majority of medical services, including hospital care, but does not automatically extend to the full costs of residential long-term care placements.

Eligibility for publicly subsidised residential care facilities has traditionally required household registration in Taiwan — a status that foreign nationals on standard work or dependent visas do not hold. Publicly managed assisted-living apartments in Taipei, for instance, require applicants to have been registered Taipei City residents for at least one year. Those holding a Permanent Resident Certificate are better positioned to access social welfare provisions, although full equivalence with citizens is not guaranteed across all programmes.

Taiwan’s care access rules do not draw the same EU versus non-EU distinctions that apply in some European jurisdictions. Eligibility is determined primarily by residency status, household registration, and — within LTC programmes — the outcome of a functional assessment. Retirees on long-stay visas who lack full residency registration may find their access to subsidised care significantly constrained and should seek legal advice regarding their specific circumstances.

What private elderly care and international options are available in Taiwan?

Recent years have seen considerable growth in rental retirement accommodation aimed at healthy older adults who remain capable of independent living. Government encouragement of private-sector participation has generated substantial expansion in the retirement industry, with private investment fuelling the construction of retirement residences throughout the country.

The private market encompasses everything from modest board-and-care arrangements to upscale continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). At the premium end, facilities such as Chang Gung Health and Culture Village in Taoyuan offer resort-style residential living integrated with medical support — providing independent apartments alongside progressively intensive nursing care on a single campus. This model is broadly comparable to high-end CCRCs found in Japan and parts of Western Europe.

Taiwan’s so-called “silver economy” and long-term care market is projected to reach NT$3.6 trillion (approximately US$120 billion) in 2025. The scale of growth is attracting both domestic and international capital to the sector, and newer developments are increasingly being built to amenity standards and care quality benchmarks that appeal to internationally mobile retirees.

For expatriates who are not proficient in Mandarin, communication can be a significant practical challenge. While major urban hospitals and upmarket private facilities often maintain staff with some English-language capability, the overwhelming majority of community-level care services function primarily in Mandarin Chinese or Taiwanese Hokkien. Facilities affiliated with religious organisations — including Buddhist, Catholic, and Protestant charities — may provide an environment more attuned to diverse cultural backgrounds for some residents. International retirement relocation consultants operating in Taiwan can assist with facility identification, though their credentials and the registration status of recommended facilities should always be independently verified.

What role does health insurance play in covering elderly care in Taiwan?

Taiwan established its universal healthcare system in 1995 through the National Health Insurance (NHI) programme. While the majority of the country’s healthcare facilities — both public and private — are accessible through this framework, private providers deliver most of the actual care, meaning all residents can access a broadly high standard of medical services.

The NHI system is funded primarily through premiums and co-payments, both of which are required of all residents unless they qualify as vulnerable. Those enrolled in NHI are entitled to inpatient care, outpatient care, and home health care delivered by a qualified caregiver in the individual’s own home rather than a nursing facility. However, NHI does not comprehensively cover the ongoing costs of residential long-term care; it addresses the medical and nursing dimensions of care within those settings rather than accommodation and personal assistance fees.

Taiwan has not yet introduced a mandatory long-term care insurance scheme comparable to Germany’s Pflegeversicherung or Japan’s Kaigo Hoken. Instead, long-term care expenditure is addressed through the tax-funded LTC programme for qualifying residents, with the shortfall for others falling to families or private resources. Private long-term care insurance products are offered by Taiwanese insurers and selected international providers, and expatriates contemplating retirement in Taiwan should examine these options carefully.

When evaluating private health or long-term care insurance policies, retirees should consider: whether residential nursing home fees are explicitly covered; whether dementia care is included; whether medical evacuation or repatriation clauses are present; and whether coverage remains in force as the policyholder ages. Many standard international health insurance policies exclude chronic care and nursing home costs — it is essential to read exclusion clauses thoroughly before committing. Seeking guidance from an independent insurance broker with knowledge of the Taiwanese market is strongly recommended.

What should expats consider when planning for elderly care in Taiwan?

Preparing for elderly care in Taiwan involves understanding the local legal environment and how personal factors — residency status, NHI enrolment, and financial circumstances — interact with the care system. The sooner this planning begins, the broader the range of options that will remain available.

Legal preparedness is fundamental. Taiwan’s Civil Code includes provisions for guardianship arrangements, but navigating these processes as a foreign national — particularly when family members are based overseas — can be more complicated. Consulting a locally qualified Taiwanese lawyer is advisable in order to establish appropriate legal instruments, including:

• Power of attorney (授權書) — granting a trusted individual in Taiwan the authority to handle financial and care-related decisions on your behalf should you lose mental capacity
• Advance care directives — Taiwan’s Patient Autonomy Act (2019) allows individuals to record their end-of-life care preferences in a legally recognised document; this right extends to all residents, but requires a preliminary consultation with an accredited medical team before the directive can be formalised
• Next-of-kin rights — foreign family members may encounter administrative obstacles in hospital and care home contexts; having written authorisation and locally accessible emergency contacts documented in advance is essential

Financial planning should realistically account for the costs of care at varying levels of need, particularly in scenarios where public subsidies are unavailable to you as a foreign national. Maintaining sufficient personal savings or insurance cover, and keeping NHI enrolment current, are both important safeguards. Taiwan’s elderly care system faces ongoing challenges including a shortage of qualified care workers and a deficit of specialist facilities for older people with complex medical conditions — making private provision the more dependable path for certain expatriates.

Engaging a financial adviser or solicitor with direct experience of expatriate circumstances in Taiwan — ideally one conversant with cross-border estate planning and the interface between Taiwanese and your home country’s legal systems — is strongly recommended before committing to any long-term care arrangements.

What are the best official sources of information on elderly care in Taiwan?

Official channels provide the most reliable and current guidance on eligibility criteria, costs, and registered facilities. Given that rules and funding thresholds change frequently — particularly during the transition from LTC 2.0 to LTC 3.0 — it is essential to verify information through these sources rather than depending solely on third-party publications.

• Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) — the principal government authority responsible for long-term care policy, NHI administration, facility accreditation, and care quality standards
• Executive Yuan (Cabinet) — publishes key policy documents including the LTC 2.0 and LTC 3.0 frameworks in English
• Long-Term Care Hotline: 1966 — a free national telephone service for long-term care enquiries, with referrals to local care management centres available for assessments
• Taipei City Department of Social Welfare — for service listings, registered facility information, and social welfare programmes specific to elderly residents of Taipei
• Local Municipal and County Health Bureaus — each city and county maintains its own register of approved care facilities, inspection records, and locally administered subsidy schemes; contact your local health bureau directly for area-specific information
• National Immigration Agency — for guidance on residency categories, ARC conditions, and the implications of different residency statuses for access to social welfare programmes

Fees, eligibility requirements, and facility registration details change frequently. Always verify specifics directly with the MOHW or the relevant local authority before making any care arrangements, and request written confirmation of any quoted fees or entitlements.

Frequently Asked Questions About Elderly Care in Taiwan

Is elderly care in Taiwan of a high standard compared to other countries?

Over the course of the Long-Term Care 2.0 era, waiting times for services plummeted from close to two months to just four days, and public satisfaction with care services remained near 90 percent throughout. Hospital-affiliated care facilities in Taiwan broadly meet international quality benchmarks, and the universal NHI system guarantees wide access to medical treatment. Quality among smaller, independently run community care homes varies more considerably, and anyone considering a facility should review its MOHW accreditation status before making a decision.

Can a foreign national on a retirement or long-stay visa access Taiwan’s public long-term care system?

At present, the publicly funded Long-Term Care programme is designed primarily for Taiwanese citizens and, in limited circumstances, qualifying foreign nationals. The forthcoming LTC 3.0 programme may broaden eligibility to include foreign nationals who hold permanent residency and are employed in professional or mid-level skilled roles. Foreign nationals who lack permanent residency or household registration are generally ineligible for publicly subsidised residential placements and should budget for private care costs. The MOHW should be consulted for the latest confirmed eligibility rules, as these are under active review.

What happens if a family member living abroad needs emergency residential care in Taiwan?

In urgent situations, Taiwanese hospitals will provide acute medical treatment regardless of nationality — either through the NHI system for those enrolled or on a direct-pay basis. Arrangements for subsequent residential care placement typically need to be made through the local long-term care management centre (reachable via the 1966 hotline) or by contacting private care facilities directly. Putting power of attorney documentation and local emergency contact details in place before any crisis occurs is strongly advisable.

Are there care homes in Taiwan where staff speak languages other than Mandarin?

The large majority of community-level care services in Taiwan are conducted in Mandarin Chinese or Taiwanese Hokkien. Certain premium private facilities and hospital-linked care centres in major cities — Taipei in particular — do employ staff with English-language competence. Facilities operated by religious charities, including Buddhist, Catholic, and Protestant organisations, may offer an environment that suits residents from varied cultural backgrounds. If language capability is a priority, it is advisable to contact facilities directly to assess their linguistic resources before committing.

Does Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) cover nursing home fees?

Upon enrolment in NHI, residents are entitled to inpatient care, outpatient care, and professionally delivered home health care. However, NHI addresses the medical and clinical components of care rather than accommodation and personal support costs within residential settings. Residential out-of-pocket expenses must be met through the LTC subsidy programme (for those who are eligible), private insurance, or personal savings. Expatriates should not rely on NHI alone to cover the full cost of nursing home placement.

What is the difference between a nursing home and a long-term care facility in Taiwan?

Among those receiving institutional care, 48.45 percent reside in designated long-term care facilities while 38.35 percent are in nursing homes. Long-term care facilities (長期照顧機構) are designed for individuals with moderate functional limitations who require daily assistance but do not need continuous medical nursing supervision. Nursing homes (護理之家) offer around-the-clock nursing care and are better suited to those with more complex clinical needs. Both categories are regulated by the MOHW and are required to be registered and subject to periodic inspection. Dedicated memory care units for residents with dementia are increasingly available within facilities of both types.

How do I start the process of applying for long-term care services in Taiwan?

1. Contact the national Long-Term Care Hotline on 1966 (free of charge) to register your enquiry and request an assessment appointment.
2. A care manager from your local Long-Term Care Management Centre will contact you to carry out a needs assessment, covering physical, cognitive, and daily living functioning.
3. The assessment will result in a care level determination (1–8) that establishes the subsidy level and range of services for which you qualify.
4. A personalised care plan is then developed in discussion with you or your family, setting out which services — home care, day care, respite care, or residential placement — will be provided.
5. Services are coordinated through contracted providers. Your co-payment is calculated based on your assigned care level and household income.
6. Review the care plan at regular intervals — your needs can be reassessed if your circumstances change, and the plan adjusted accordingly.

What should I look for in a private long-term care insurance policy for retirement in Taiwan?

When choosing a private long-term care or health insurance policy to complement NHI coverage in Taiwan, prioritise policies that explicitly cover nursing home and residential care fees rather than medical treatment alone; include provisions for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease; impose no upper age limit on renewal; cover in-home professional caregivers; and incorporate medical evacuation or repatriation benefits. Bear in mind that many standard international health insurance products exclude chronic or custodial care. Consulting an independent insurance broker with specific knowledge of the Taiwan market and expatriate retirement planning needs is strongly recommended before making any purchase decision.