Taiwan to pilot symbiotic housing for elderly care

Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare is set to pilot a “symbiotic housing” model, inspired by Japan, to support the aging population, particularly those without family members to provide care. The initiative aims to allow unrelated elderly individuals to co-rent residential properties, transitioning from a “one-on-one” home care model to a “one-to-many” service model where resources are shared within a single household.

Minister Shih Chung-liang stated that approximately 10 locations have proposed plans, with pilot programs expected to launch as early as the fourth quarter of this year. The model focuses on providing 24-hour care for up to six residents per household, primarily targeting those with moderate to severe medical needs.

Beyond simple co-living, the program will integrate long-term care with National Health Insurance home medical services, including palliative care and “hospitalization at home” options. This approach seeks to address the uneven distribution of traditional long-term care institutions and provide more diverse options for aging in place within familiar communities.