2026/09/24 14:43
Grandma Lin (right) said that distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. Government visitors constantly chat with the elderly and provide encouragement. They suggest that the elderly participate in various activities, which can reduce the emotional stress of the elderly. Seeing their enthusiasm for visiting, she feels very warm in her heart and praises the elderly living alone. (Photo by reporter Lin Zhiyi)
[Reporter Lin Zhiyi/Taipei Report] The Ministry of Health and Welfare launched the "Census of Elderly Persons Living Alone" this year (2026). From July to August this year, it has actually interviewed 80,000 elderly people living alone, and it is expected to complete interviews with about 700,000 elderly people living alone by the end of next year (2027). Minister of Health and Welfare Shi Chongliang reminded that inspectors are usually accompanied by the village head, village officials and other personnel to visit, and they will definitely wear identification cards, show official documents from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and will never ask for passbooks, seals, account numbers, etc. Elders should rest assured.
Zhou Daojun, Director of Social Affairs of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, explained that the Ministry of Health and Welfare invested 6.25 billion yuan in promoting "expanding services for the elderly living alone" from 2015 to 2016. It is expected to mobilize more than 12,000 interviewers and coordinate with more than 5,000 community care bases to knock on doors. Retired veterans will visit veterans living alone and interview about 700,000 elders one by one. In addition to the interviewers, they are usually accompanied by village chiefs, village officials and other personnel.
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Zhou Daojun said that in addition to the elderly living alone whose household registration information is visible, some elders may have other family members registered in their household registrations, but in fact the family members do not live together, or the elders themselves have other complicated situations such as "the registered person is absent". Therefore, this census also relies on the assistance of grassroots community partners to understand the actual living conditions of the elders from the surrounding area. If other cases of single elders are found, they will also be included in future service evaluations.
Shi Chongliang pointed out that there are currently 4.78 million elderly people over 65 years old in our country, and the situation of the elderly varies greatly, and the care of elderly people living alone is a big challenge. He hopes to understand the needs and conditions of the elderly through this comprehensive and carpet-based census. However, during this census process, in addition to finding people to make the elderly willing to open the door, he also hopes to avoid being harmed by external forces such as fraud.
In addition, Shi Chongliang reminded that the interviewers conducting the census will wear identification cards and show official documents from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. During the visit, they will never ask questions unrelated to the visit, leak personal information, and will not ask for bankbooks, seals, account numbers, etc. from their elders. Elders should rest assured.
Shi Chongliang said that after the visit, precise services will be provided according to the needs of the elderly, including meal delivery, installation of emergency rescue equipment, daily telephone care, on-site companionship, etc. He hopes to combine more private resources to provide elderly services in the future, so that the elderly living alone can have more protection and security.
Grandma Lin, who was visited during this census, is over 90 years old. When the interviewer came to knock on the door, she did not open the door immediately. She only asked the person behind the iron door about their visit. Supervisor Su, who came to visit, was wearing a civil rights community vest and a Ministry of Health and Welfare identification card. She also showed her the official documents, and after sincere explanations, she was willing to open the door and let Supervisor Su into her home. Now, with the help of the Care Center, she has become accustomed to going out of the house to participate in community activities. It is like having many more "relatives who are not related by blood", and her heart is very warm.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has launched the "Census of Elders Living Alone" and has actually interviewed 80,000 elderly people living alone between July and August this year (2026), and is expected to complete interviews with approximately 700,000 elderly people living alone by the end of next year (2027). (Photo by reporter Lin Zhiyi)
