Family size is declining and the pressure to take care of the elders is increasing. Scholars recommend making good use of community resources

Elderly protection notification cases are increasing year by year. Scholars and experts say that Taiwan is facing an aging population and a declining child population. The number of families is declining, and caregiving pressure is rising. This has led to frequent cases of elder abuse. It is recommended that family members know how to make good use of long-term care and community support resources and seek help. Elders should also be considerate of the family's hard work, rather than harshly criticizing caregivers.

Wang Xiuyan, an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Social Work and Child and Adolescent Welfare at Jingyi University, said that cases of elder protection include neglect, mental abuse, physical violence and financial abuse. Among them, mental abuse cases account for the majority, and the majority of abusers are family members. The factor lies in getting along with each other.

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Wang Xiuyan said that the aging of the population is unavoidable. Family members coexist with their elders, and even the elderly take care of the elderly. Different generations and different backgrounds can easily cause conflicts. She suggests that children should make good use of the long-term care provided by the public sector and the resources provided by the community, such as community care centers. On the other hand, the elders should also be more considerate of the pressure of family members working outside. Those with mobility issues should go more into the community and participate in activities to shift their focus to reduce conflicts with family members and benefit their physical and mental health.

She proposed five measures to prevent the abuse of the elderly. First, make good use of long-term care services and respite service resources; second, strengthen the understanding of the physical, mental, and social aspects of the elderly and correct knowledge about dementia or elderly care; third, avoid social isolation of the elderly and encourage participation in stronghold activities; fourth, be brave enough to ask for help and report, do not hold back, and finally strengthen social publicity on the rights and interests of the elderly.

Shi Yuzhen, deputy CEO of Xiaoming Foundation, also suggested that family members make good use of the long-term care system and ask residential staff to help take care of the elderly. Because the current work pressure in the workplace has made young people unable to cope with their needs, they neglect the needs of their elders.

Taichung City Social Affairs Director Liao Jingzhi said that the Social Affairs Bureau has riot prevention planners, who are served by neighborhood leaders, volunteers, and community management committees. The riot prevention planners and private care visitors will regularly care for the elders and publicize to the elders that they should report if they are treated inappropriately and not tolerate it.

Guo Cairong, director of the Protection Department of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, also mentioned that if families have other risk factors, social workers will introduce long-term care, home care, and mental health resources to reduce the burden on the family. However, he also called on the elderly to face the dilemma of family relationships and violence and prevent it as early as possible through financial trusts, voluntary guardianships and other financial management methods. At the same time, they should establish a culture of open family discussion and actively participate in community activities to ensure smooth intergenerational communication and avoid isolation.