Long-term care for the elderly in Taiwan.

An aging population, the prevalence of chronic disease and functional disabilities, and changes in society have caused a greater demand for long-term care in Taiwan. The development of long-term care has gone through four stages: undeveloped, early beginning, expanding, and establishment. Problems in several areas including lack of care providers and facilities, expenses of care, and difficulty coordinating health and social services are issues that must be explored. Well-planned and managed long-term care services are an important task for the Taiwanese government to address so holistic care of elders can be provided in this new century.