Vice President-elect Chen Chien-jen says his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is focused on promoting community-based health care for the elderly.
Chen was speaking Monday at a charity exhibition on long-term care. He commented on a long-term care center under construction at Puli Christian Hospital, saying it exemplifies the DPP’s emphasis on local, community-based care for senior citizens.
“Our long-term care plan is community-based. We also hope that women in the community can come to the long-term care center to lend a helping hand when their kids are away at school. [We aim to] integrate all the doctors, pharmacists, and nurses from the community and set up a health-care center. This way, the elderly will be able to enjoy a healthy life instead of just medical care," said Chen.
Chen said that Finland emphasizes health and illness prevention for its elderly citizens, rather than treating them after they fall ill. He said the goal of long-term care is to ensure everyone can live happily in a good physical and mental state as they age. He said he believes that Puli Christian Hospital is making progress in this direction.