Abstract
Investigation of the key indicators of health promotion policies for an aging society can shed light on the priority of the government's health promotion efforts. This study applied the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method in an empirical analysis of the key indicators of the health promotion policies for Taiwan's aging society. Based on a review of the literature and expert interviews, this paper first conducted a preliminary study and evaluation of major factors affecting health promotion policies and found 4 major evaluation aspects and 16 evaluation indicators. After employing an AHP expert questionnaire in an empirical investigation, the following findings were made: (1) “healthy living” was the most important evaluation aspect for Taiwan's health promotion policies for its aging society. (2) The six leading key indicators of health promotion policies were “promotion of personal health awareness and behavior,” “promotion of home medical services,” “guaranteeing the economic security of the elderly,” “planning a family caregiver support service system,” “well-planned health promotion plans for the elderly,” and “training long-term care service personnel and providing professional medical care.” Following discussion, recommendations concerning these six key indicators are made as a reference for future evaluation of health promotion policies for an aging society.
Highlights
Taiwan’s population over the age of 65 has accounted for more than 14% of the total population since 2018, which indicates that Taiwan has become an aging society [1]
By 2025, 80% of the elderly are expected to Journal of Healthcare Engineering suffer from at least one chronic disease, and 50% of the elderly will suffer from two or more chronic diseases [6]. e treatment of chronic diseases of the elderly will account for 66% of the medical budget [7, 8]. ese projections indicate that the medical costs of an aging society will be high
Promotion of personal health awareness and behavior Well-planned health promotion plans for the elderly Promotion of home medical services Seamless integration of medical services and social care Training long-term care service personnel and providing professional medical care Planning a family caregiver support service system Promoting connection and mutual assistance between families and the community Guaranteeing the economic security of the elderly Promotion of participation by older adults Encouragement of the elderly to participate in voluntary service Promotion of an education and learning system for older adults Encouragement of creative thinking concerning services for older adults Establishment of a network of continuous service resources Establishment of community service resource centers Creation of friendly living facilities and spaces Review of laws, regulations, and public education
Summary
Taiwan’s population over the age of 65 has accounted for more than 14% of the total population since 2018, which indicates that Taiwan has become an aging society [1]. Taiwan is already one of the countries with the fastest rate of aging in the world [3]. E development of effective health promotion for an aging society is one of the government’s core policies, and it is believed that sound health promotion policies can effectively reduce the health risks and medical costs of the elderly and improve their quality of life. The leading countries of Europe, America, and Japan are facing the problem of a declining birthrate and aging population, and progress in medicine and public health has increased average life expectancy. According to the estimates of the World Health Organization (WHO), the growth rate of the world’s elderly population will be as high as 223% in 2025. E governments of various countries are paying increasing attention to health promotion and care for the elderly Research has shown that the implementation of health promotion plans can effectively reduce health risks and healthcare costs for the elderly [9]. e governments of various countries are paying increasing attention to health promotion and care for the elderly
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