Hualien Launches Dementia-Friendly Taxi Fleet: 7 Warm-Hearted Drivers Begin Service

(Central News Agency, Hualien County, June 10) Taxi driver Guo Youtian was waiting in line at Hualien Train Station when he saw an elderly man covered in filth anxiously hailing a cab. While everyone else shunned him, Guo was willing to take the man to the hospital. He said, 'I hope that my parents with dementia will also be treated with kindness and fairness when they are out.'

When the Hualien County Health Bureau and the dementia care team at Mennonite Christian Hospital proposed the idea of a 'Dementia-Friendly Loving Taxi Fleet,' Guo Youtian joined without hesitation, hoping to turn his own caregiving experience into strength to protect other families.

The first dementia-friendly taxi fleet in Hualien County was established on June 9, with seven drivers becoming key partners for elderly with dementia in accessing medical care, rehabilitation, and community activities. They promise no detours and no extra charges, building a safer road home for families affected by dementia.

'People who haven't personally cared for dementia patients can hardly understand that helplessness,' Guo said. His parents not only gradually lose their memory but also often talk to themselves. Sometimes they can converse normally one moment, and the next moment they are living in another time and space. For family members, the biggest fear is not that the elderly forget things, but whether they will be treated well when family cannot always be with them.

Dr. Zhuang Yongbiao, Superintendent of Mennonite Christian Hospital, stated that the seven drivers joining the service are not just taxi drivers; they are important partners in Hualien's dementia-friendly community. As more people in the community understand and accept dementia, families dealing with it will no longer feel alone. He hopes more drivers will join in the future to gradually build a more complete dementia-friendly transportation network, allowing the elderly to go out with peace of mind and return home safely.

Before the certification ceremony, Mennonite Christian Hospital arranged special training courses on dementia knowledge and friendly communication. Chen Yingru, Supervisor of the Long-Term Care Department, and Chen Ting, Case Manager of the Dementia Care Center, served as instructors, explaining common dementia symptoms, risks of wandering, identification methods, and practical communication skills.

Chen Yingru pointed out that dementia is not simply memory decline. Patients may experience confusion with time and space, decreased judgment, mood swings, and repetitive questioning. Hualien County has about 60,000 residents aged 65 and over, with a dementia prevalence rate of about 8%, estimating over 4,000 elderly with dementia in the county. Many patients appear normal on the outside but may be at risk of getting lost, forgetting their destination, or falling victim to fraud, making a friendly support network particularly important.

Chen Ting used real case studies to teach drivers how to interact with elderly with dementia. She said the most important things when dealing with dementia patients are listening and companionship. Do not argue, blame, or rush to correct them. When an elderly person is agitated, diverting their attention can help calm them. If a potentially lost elderly person is found, drivers should proactively offer care, help them stay in a safe place, and seek police assistance if necessary.

Two of the drivers, Guo Youtian and Li Qingde, were themselves family members of dementia patients. Li Qingde's father experienced delusions of persecution, anxiety, and memory decline before his death, making caregiving very difficult. He believes the greatest value of the dementia-friendly taxi fleet is not just the transportation itself, but ensuring the elderly receive genuine understanding and respect during their outings. 'If such a service had existed back then, our caregiving family would have felt much more at ease.'

As the government strictly enforces license renewal and physical examination regulations for drivers aged 70 and above, many elderly have given up driving themselves, leading to a significant increase in their reliance on taxis. Rides using the 'Love Card' (subsidized transportation card) even account for more than half of daytime passenger volume. 'Families dealing with dementia already have a hard enough time. They shouldn't have to worry about simply going out,' Guo said. The seven drivers who joined this time were carefully selected as partners genuinely willing to engage in public service.

The Hualien County Government Health Bureau stated that the world seen by dementia patients is often different from that of ordinary people. Some elderly refuse to get out of the car, not out of deliberate non-cooperation, but because their visual perception is distorted, making a flat surface look like a dangerous deep valley, causing fear.

Professionally trained drivers understand the reasons behind these behaviors and accompany the elderly through each journey with patience and empathy. The establishment of this dementia-friendly taxi fleet not only fills a gap in transportation support for dementia families but also brings kindness and understanding to every corner of the city, creating a warmer elderly care environment for Hualien. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150610