Government promotes long-term elderly care program
政府推動老年人口長期照護計畫
By 中央社
編譯:廖文韻
(From:
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/print.php)
The Ministry of the Interior on Tuesday encouraged elderly people and disabled senior citizens who need long-term care services to apply for government subsidies for such services.
內政部週二鼓勵需要長期照護的老年人以及身心障礙的高齡民眾，申請相關服務的政府補助。
The ministry, in conjunction with the Department of Health, launched the subsidy program last year to meet the rapidly increasing need for long-term care in Taiwan's aging population.
內政部與衛生署去年合作推動這項補助計畫，以因應國內老年人口在長期照護方面迅速增加的需求。
Last year, more than 36,000 elderly people were subsidized through the program which is funded by the central government and operated by local governments, the ministry said in a statement.
內政部新聞稿指出，這項計畫由中央政府補助經費，交由地方政府執行，去年有超過3萬6千名老年人透過計畫獲得補助。
The scheme is geared for people aged 65 or over and disabled people between the ages of 50 and 65.
補助的適用對象是65歲以上的老年人，以及50歲以上未滿65歲的身心障礙人士。
The government provides subsidies in different amounts to eligible applicants based on the extent of their disability and their families' economic situation. People with a higher level of disability and with lower family income will be granted a higher amount of subsidy, according to the ministry.
內政部表示，政府提供的補助額度，依民眾的失能程度及家庭經濟狀況而有所不同；失能程度愈高、經濟狀況愈弱勢者，政府提供的補助額愈高。
Normally, the government provides 60 percent of long-term care subsidies for people from middle-income families, 90 percent for people from lower middle-income families, and 100 percent for low-income families, the statement indicated.
新聞稿中指出，正常來說，一般收入戶由政府補助60%、中低收入戶由政府補助90%、低收入戶則由政府全額補助。
Through the program, people in need of long-term care can continue to live in their own home if they prefer to do so and would not cause a burden or pressure on their families because a caregiver is provided, the statement noted.
新聞稿提到，根據此計畫，因為有照護管理人員，需要長期照護的民眾可以依意願繼續住在家中，卻不致造成家人的負擔或壓力。
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