How to Choose an Elderly Welfare Institution / Retirement Residence? Licensing, Evaluation, Staff Ratio, and On-site Inspection Checklist
When choosing an elderly welfare institution, it is recommended to verify four things in order: ① Whether it is legally licensed (check against the "List of Elderly Welfare Institutions" published by the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Social and Family Affairs Administration; this site uses this list as its backbone); ② Evaluation results (private small-scale institutions are mostly evaluated by county/city governments, with grades of Excellent, A, B, C, D; those rated C or below will be publicly ordered to improve within a time limit; foundations and public institutions are evaluated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, with results of Pass/Fail); ③ Whether staffing meets the caregiver-to-resident and nurse-to-resident ratios stipulated in the "Standards for the Establishment of Elderly Welfare Institutions"; ④ Contracts and fees (standardized contracts for residential institutions require at least a 3-day review period, with regulations on deposits and refunds). The following compiles objective indicators and official inquiry channels that can be checked item by item, neutral and not representing a ranking of quality.
Four Steps to Choosing an Institution
It is recommended to verify the following four items in order; the first two determine "whether you can choose," and the latter two determine "whether it is suitable":
- Check licensing: Verify legal licensing against the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Social and Family Affairs Administration "List of Elderly Welfare Institutions"
- Check evaluation: For private small-scale institutions, check county/city evaluations (Excellent to D); for foundations and public institutions, check Ministry of Health and Welfare evaluations (Pass/Fail)
- Verify staffing: Check whether caregiver and nurse staffing meets the "Standards for the Establishment of Elderly Welfare Institutions"
- Review contracts and fees: Standardized contracts require at least a 3-day review period; fees and refunds should be transparent item by item
Comparison of Legally Required Caregiver Ratios
According to the "Standards for the Establishment of Elderly Welfare Institutions," caregiver-to-resident ratios (day/night) vary by institution type. During visits, you can ask whether actual scheduling meets these requirements:
- Long-term care type: 1:5/1:15; 1 nurse per 15 residents
- Custodial care type: 1:8/1:25; 1 nurse per 20 residents
- Dementia care type: 1:3/1:15; 1 nurse per 20 residents
- Residential care type: 1:15/1:35
Key Points to Check During an On-site Visit
First check online for licensing, evaluation, and recent public safety records, then observe the following items on-site (especially night staffing):
- Public safety: Fire safety and evacuation routes, accessibility facilities
- Staffing and residents: Whether day and night staffing is adequate, residents' appearance and cleanliness, use of restraints, interaction with staff
- Care details: Activity and rehabilitation arrangements, meals (including special diets), contracted medical services and mobile clinic visits/referrals, infection control
FAQ
How can I confirm whether an institution is a legally licensed elderly welfare institution?
According to the "Elderly Welfare Act," elderly welfare institutions must be approved by the competent authority, and foundations must complete corporate registration (except for private small-scale institutions). You can check against the "List of Elderly Welfare Institutions" published by the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Social and Family Affairs Administration to verify the institution's name, address, and licensing information; this site uses that list as its data backbone. Note that "nursing homes" fall under the "Standards for Classification and Establishment of Nursing Institutions" and are governed by a different legal system, with a different licensing category.
How should I interpret the evaluation results of elderly welfare institutions? Where can I check the grades?
Evaluations are generally conducted every four years. Foundations and public institutions are evaluated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, with results of "Pass/Fail"; outstanding performers may receive commendations. Private small-scale institutions are mostly evaluated by county/city governments, often with five grades: Excellent, A, B, C, D. Those rated A or above may receive priority for government subsidies or contracts; those rated C or below will have the institution and its responsible person publicly announced by the competent authority and ordered to improve within a time limit. Results can be found on the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Social and Family Affairs Administration "Elderly Welfare Institution Evaluation Zone" and on county/city social affairs bureau websites.
What are the legally required staffing ratios for different types of institutions?
According to the "Standards for the Establishment of Elderly Welfare Institutions," the caregiver-to-resident ratios (day/night) are approximately: Long-term care type 1:5/1:15, Custodial care type 1:8/1:25, Dementia care type 1:3/1:15, Residential care type 1:15/1:35. For nursing staff, long-term care type requires 1 nurse per 15 residents, custodial and dementia care types require 1 nurse per 20 residents, and at least 1 nurse must be on duty at all times. During visits, you can ask whether actual scheduling meets these requirements, especially for night shifts.
What should I pay attention to regarding contracts and deposits?
Residential long-term care institutions have standardized contract terms announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which include mandatory and prohibited provisions. The contract must have at least a 3-day review period, and the right to review cannot be waived. Deposits have upper limits and must be kept in a dedicated account, with refund terms based on unused days. Before signing, be sure to review all fee items (monthly fees, consumables, medical expenses, advance payments), adjustment mechanisms, and refund terms, and request written documentation.
What key points should I check during an on-site visit?
It is recommended to first check online for licensing, evaluation results, and recent public safety or penalty records, then observe on-site: fire safety and evacuation routes, accessibility facilities, whether day and night staffing is adequate, residents' appearance and cleanliness, use of restraints, interaction with staff, activity and rehabilitation arrangements, meals (including special diets), and contracted medical services, mobile clinic visits, referrals, and infection control practices (the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control has issued infection control guidelines for long-term care institutions).
Can the number of reviews and ratings be used as a basis for selection?
Google ratings and review counts reflect public user feedback and are for reference only; they do not represent care quality, nor are they an endorsement or ranking by this site. It is recommended to rely primarily on official licensing and evaluation data, supplemented by on-site visits, and compare written contracts, then make a comprehensive judgment based on the elderly person's actual self-care ability and care needs.
How can I check if an institution has violations, penalties, or public safety records?
You can cross-check through three channels: ① County/city social affairs bureau websites often publish evaluation results for local elderly welfare institutions, as well as lists of institutions rated C or below, those ordered to improve, suspended, or revoked; ② The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Social and Family Affairs Administration "Elderly Welfare Institution Evaluation Zone" provides historical evaluation results; ③ Penalties related to public safety (fire, building management) or violations of the "Elderly Welfare Act" are usually announced by local competent authorities. It is recommended to search for the full institution name along with county/city social affairs bureau announcements and news, and during visits, ask the institution to show its most recent evaluation results and corrective actions for deficiencies.
· 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.