The Political Yuan approves the dementia prevention and care plan to include young people with dementia under the age of 50

The Executive Yuan today (15th) passed the "Dementia Prevention and Care Policy Framework and Action Plan 3.0" report, aiming to achieve the goal of "Dementia Friendly Taiwan 888" by 2035, including an accurate dementia diagnosis rate of 80%, a dementia service coverage rate of 80%, a dementia literacy rate of personnel in specific institutions or sites of 80%, and for the first time, young people with dementia and disability under the age of 50 will be included in the scope of delaying the course of the disease.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has promoted a policy framework for dementia prevention, treatment and care since 2013, and has invested more than 50 billion yuan to date, and has achieved the "Dementia Friendly Taiwan 777" goal by 2025, which means that more than 70% of the dementia population has received diagnosis and services, more than 70% of dementia family caregivers have received support and services, and 7% of the people have a correct understanding and friendly attitude towards dementia.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that the "Dementia Prevention and Care Policy Framework and Action Plan 3.0" was promulgated in June this year, focusing on the three aspects of "full age, full disease course, and full support", early intervention to delay the course of the disease, improve family socioeconomic support, and upgrade the dementia-friendly environment. The goal is to reach the "Dementia-Friendly Taiwan 888" standard from this year to 2035.

According to epidemiological surveys, there are currently about 10,000 young people with dementia every year, and about 400,000 elderly people with dementia. The Ministry of Health and Welfare pointed out that in order to intervene early and delay the course of the disease, young people with dementia and disability under the age of 50 will be included. In order to implement a dignified death, efforts will be made to increase the rate of advance medical decision-making and hospice palliative care willingness among cases in the current year to 2% and 4%. It will also consider expanding free advance care consultation (ACP) service targets.

In addition, the Ministry of Health and Welfare also reported today on "the government's welfare care measures for the elderly." Executive President Zhuo Yongtai pointed out at the meeting that the government will complete the interviews and needs classification of 700,000 elderly people living alone next year (2027), expand meal delivery service targets to 70,000 people, and relax emergency rescue device subsidy qualifications. This funding for care for the elderly living alone will be fully allocated through the special resilience budget, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare is requested to collaborate with local governments to complete this project.

In terms of "rooting in community care and expanding service coverage", Zhuo Kui said that the government continues to build community care bases, moving towards the goal of covering more than 90% of villages, and takes care visits, telephone greetings, shared meal services and health promotion as the four core tasks to strengthen the community support network and promote the health, social participation and interpersonal connections of the elderly.