Amendment allows Taiwanese over 80 to bypass health evaluations when hiring caregivers

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An amendment to the Employment Service Act allows seniors above 80 to bypass health evaluations when hiring foreign caregivers.

The amendment, which passed its third reading in the Legislature on Tuesday, was proposed by the opposition and criticized by the government. The labor and health ministries expressed concern that the changes would undermine the country’s long-term care system.

The amendment allows individuals 80 and older to sidestep Barthel Index-based health evaluations, an index used in Taiwan to assess a person's ability to perform the basic activities of daily living.

The labor ministry warned the amendment could make it more difficult for families with members in need of care to hire live-in helpers. Taiwan has a shortage of migrant caregivers and the ministry argued the changes will exacerbate demand, making an additional 530,000 individuals eligible to hire caregivers.

The ministry pointed out the countries supplying these migrant caregivers would not be able to increase their number of workers suddenly. In addition, recruitment, training, and immigration paperwork take several months, which could drive up hiring costs.

The health ministry said 60% of seniors above 80 do not suffer from disabilities. It said that around-the-clock care could place an additional strain on the caregiving system.

However, the opposition party contended that the old policy does not consider unexpected incidents. It also said the changes will lessen the burden on younger families amid Taiwan’s declining birthrate.

The changes also waive health evaluations for individuals 70 to 79 suffering from stage two or more advanced cancer. In addition, the health ministry said it will work with the Council of Indigenous Peoples to determine evaluation methods for Indigenous people.

In 2023, the Barthel Index was waived for certain groups, such as people receiving long-term care for six consecutive months, those with early-stage dementia, and people with difficulty breathing or swallowing.