Elderly Not Ready for Institutions? A Comprehensive Look at Home Care, Day Care, Community Centers, and Other 'Aging in Place' Long-Term Care Resources

Not all elderly individuals need to live in institutions—Long-Term Care 2.0 offers various 'aging in place' home and community services. After calling the 1966 long-term care hotline for a disability assessment (Levels 2 to 8), you can use home care (caregivers visit the home), day care (daytime at a day care center, return home at night), family foster care, etc. At the community level, there are community care stations and neighborhood long-term care stations that provide group meals, meal delivery, home visits, and preventive and delay-of-disability programs; some are open to use without a disability assessment. The following summarizes care options and application methods outside of institutions. This is a neutral compilation of public resources; actual benefits and eligibility are subject to the 1966 hotline and official announcements.

What care options are available outside of institutions?

Long-Term Care 2.0 divides services into four categories (care and professional services, transportation, assistive devices and home accessibility improvements, and respite services). Home and community care falls under the first category, 'care and professional services,' and commonly includes three forms:

Home care: Caregivers visit the home to assist with bathing, eating, toileting, accompanying to medical appointments, etc.
Day care (day care center): The elderly person goes to a day care center during the day for professional care and returns home at night, suitable for those with no one to care for them during the day.
Family foster care: Caregivers care for disabled elderly in their own homes, similar to a 'home-based day care.'

How to apply? Who is eligible?

The above long-term care services require an assessment, with professional assistance in planning. You do not need to determine eligibility yourself:

Call the 1966 long-term care hotline (first 5 minutes free) or contact your local long-term care management center.
A care manager will visit the home to assess the level of care needed (Levels 2 to 8 apply) and develop a care plan.
You pay a portion of the cost based on your welfare status; low-income households are usually fully subsidized by the government.

What is the Long-Term Care ABC system?

The government provides services locally through the 'Community-Based Integrated Care Service System (Long-Term Care ABC),' divided into three levels:

Level A (Community Integrated Service Center): Overall planning and provision of home care and day care services.
Level B (Composite Service Center): Provides home care, day care, rehabilitation, transportation, meals, and other professional services.
Level C (Neighborhood Long-Term Care Station): Community-level health promotion, group meals, temporary care, and preventive and delay-of-disability programs.

Group meals, meal delivery, home visits—How to use community care stations?

'Community care stations' are promoted by the social welfare system (Social and Family Affairs Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare). They are a different system from the long-term care neighborhood stations, with overlapping functions but lower barriers and more open access:

Services: Home visits, phone check-ins and referral, meal services (group meals/meal delivery), health promotion activities.
Target: Broad participation by community elderly; most do not require a prior disability assessment.
Inquiry: Contact your local village office, district office, or social welfare bureau to find nearby stations.

When should one transition from home/community care to institutional care?

Home and community resources are suitable for elderly who are still somewhat self-sufficient and have some family care support. When needs increase, consider residential facilities:

When the elderly person requires 24-hour medical care and home care hours or family support are insufficient, consider a residential long-term care facility or nursing home.
If caregivers are under excessive stress, first utilize respite services (see our article 'Respite and Caregiver Support').
Before choosing a facility, check its registration, review inspection reports, and visit in person (see our article 'How to Choose an Elderly Welfare Institution').

FAQ

My elderly relative can still manage some tasks and doesn't want to live in an institution. What care services are available?

Long-Term Care 2.0 provides home and community services: home care (caregivers visit the home), day care (daytime at a day care center, return home at night), family foster care, etc. Call 1966 for a disability assessment to use these services. At the community level, there are also care stations offering group meals, meal delivery, and home visits; some do not require a disability assessment, allowing the elderly to 'age in place' in familiar surroundings.

What is the difference between home care and day care?

Home care involves a caregiver coming to the home to assist with bathing, eating, accompanying to medical appointments, etc. Day care means the elderly person goes to a day care center during the day for professional care and returns home at night, suitable for those with no one to care for them during the day. Both are part of Long-Term Care 2.0's 'care and professional services' and require a disability assessment (Levels 2 to 8) via the 1966 hotline.

How do I apply for home care or day care?

Call the 1966 long-term care hotline (first 5 minutes free) or contact your local long-term care management center. A care manager will visit the home to assess the level of care needed and develop a care plan, then match you with home care, day care, or family foster care. You pay a portion of the cost based on your welfare status; low-income households usually receive full subsidies.

Are 'community care stations' and 'neighborhood long-term care stations' the same?

No. Community care stations are promoted by the social welfare system (Social and Family Affairs Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare) and provide home visits, phone check-ins, group meals/meal delivery, and health promotion, with lower barriers and more open access. Neighborhood long-term care stations are part of the Long-Term Care 2.0 system (Level C) and offer temporary care, group meals, and preventive and delay-of-disability programs. Their functions overlap, and community care stations can transition into neighborhood long-term care stations.

Is there meal delivery or group meal service for elderly living alone who cannot cook?

Yes. Community care stations and neighborhood long-term care stations provide meal services, including group meals and home-delivered meals, to assist elderly who cannot prepare their own meals. Contact your local village office, district office, or social welfare bureau to find nearby stations and application methods.

What if the elderly person's needs increase after using home or community services?

When the elderly person requires 24-hour medical care and home care hours or family support are insufficient, consider transitioning to a residential long-term care facility or nursing home. If caregivers are under stress, first utilize respite services. Before choosing a facility, check its registration, review inspection reports, and visit in person (see our articles 'How to Choose an Elderly Welfare Institution' and 'Respite and Caregiver Support').

Updated: 2026-07-09 · This page is a neutral compilation of information for reference only, not medical, legal, tax, or admission advice. For actual regulations and services, please refer to official announcements from competent authorities and the institutions themselves.