New Taipei Aims for 6,500 Dementia-Friendly Stations by Year-End to Build a Dense Support Network

(CNA reporter Huang Hsu-sheng, New Taipei, July 1) The New Taipei City Government's Department of Elderly Care announced today that it is promoting early detection and diagnosis of dementia by connecting medical institutions, financial institutions, convenience stores, business districts, and communities. It is expected that by the end of this year, there will be 6,500 dementia-friendly support stations, creating a comprehensive dementia care support network.

New Taipei received first place in the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 2025 "Dementia Radar Benchmark Award." Lin Hui-ping, Director of the Department of Elderly Care, Hou Chia-ling, Deputy Director, and Chen Run-chiu, Director of the Health Bureau, presented the award to Mayor Hou Yu-ih at the city government meeting today.

Lin Hui-ping stated that New Taipei currently has 14 dementia comprehensive care centers, 64 community service points for dementia, and 5,779 dementia-friendly support stations. Through cross-disciplinary cooperation, they assist suspected dementia cases in early detection, referral, and medical treatment.

Chen Run-chiu pointed out that the "Dementia Radar Benchmark Award" primarily uses the number of newly diagnosed dementia cases in each county and city as the evaluation indicator. New Taipei City's number of newly diagnosed cases in 2025 ranked first nationwide, indicating that potential cases in the community can be more promptly connected to medical and long-term care services through screening, referral, and diagnosis mechanisms.

The Health Bureau gave an example: in Banqiao District, an elder repeatedly applied for replacement documents in a short period, which alerted household registration personnel. After a welfare check and assessment by the health station, the elder received early diagnosis and care, demonstrating the community-watching function of the dementia-friendly support stations.

The Department of Elderly Care stated that dementia-friendly support stations can help observe abnormal behavior of community residents and refer them to the health station for assessment. If elderly individuals with dementia get lost or encounter difficulties, these stations can provide a safe place to stay, offer timely care, and assist in contacting family members or relevant units. This reduces the burden on family caregivers, raises public awareness of dementia, and fosters a dementia-friendly community.

Hou Yu-ih thanked the frontline partners for their dedication, enabling more suspected dementia cases to receive early diagnosis and care. He said that dementia is a challenge that every family may face, and early detection and early intervention are crucial to protect patients and their families. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150701

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