[Age-Friendly Health Care: An Example of Providing Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) in Pingtung County, Taiwan].

Abstract

Population aging has become a prevalent societal trend in the 21st century, giving rise to intricate challenges for healthcare systems. Taiwan is expected to become a "super-aging society" in 2025. In 2020, the Health Promotion Administration, referencing World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on integrated care for older people (ICOPE), began promoting person-centered functional assessments for older adults to prevent and delay disability, reduce reliance on formal healthcare, and promote healthy aging, aging in place, and active aging. Pingtung County faces a healthcare gap between urban and rural areas. To address this, the county's executive team integrated community and healthcare systems into a single Age-Friendly Health Network to help older adults self-detect intrinsic functional decline problems at an early stage and receive early treatment. The implementation of this network is being done in the following four phases: preparation, action, implementation and revision, and promotion. As of August 2024, ICOPE intake in the county reached 11,873, representing a coverage rate of 7.42%. In addition to inadequate training opportunities for community healthcare professionals, rural communities are currently confronted with a dearth of referral mechanisms for post-ICOPE screening aftercare services for anomalous cases, representing a significant challenge that demands collaboration between industry, government, academia, and research. In light of the expanding older adult population, community nursing can be a formidable undertaking, necessitating the provision of ongoing nursing professional training and psychosocial support.