Innovation Needed for Long-Term Care: COTA Calls for 10% Budget Allocation for R&D

The Concerned Parents Association (COTA) marked its 30th anniversary by hosting an international symposium titled "Sharing Care Responsibilities: Global Caregiver Movements and Taiwan's Next Steps." Secretary-General Chen Ching-ning proposed that 'Long-Term Care 3.0' (LTC 3.0) should prioritize user-centric innovation, specifically requesting that 10% of the long-term care budget be allocated to research and development to prevent systemic stagnation.

Chen noted that while funding for LTC 2.0 increased 16-fold over nine years to over NT$80 billion, leading to a rise in formal care services, the system still faces significant labor shortages. With over 90,000 care workers supporting 530,000 users, the system remains under pressure. COTA’s 2024 survey reveals a strong public preference for universal, publicly provided care. Notably, 90% of respondents expressed a willingness to pay more for robust government services, with 80% supporting a dedicated long-term care insurance system to ensure financial stability.

COTA emphasizes that caregivers should transition from sole familial responsibility to a model shared by the state, corporations, and communities. Chen stressed that expectations for 24-hour live-in care are often impractical, and the future of care must include community support, workplace adjustments, and modernized, evidence-based care policies.