Eighth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Taiwan is currently facing the challenge of an aging population and low birth rate, and an increasing size of elderly and the disabled, as well as a structural change of society and families. As a result, the elderly and disabled may be immobilized and find it more and more difficult to go out for medical treatments due to a lack of family caregivers. Since the beginning of 2016, an “Integrated Home Medical Care Project＂was introduced by the National Health Insurance Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, to serve people with disabilities, especially those with low-income. This presentation explores the outcomes and benefits of the service model, and discusses how can it fulfil the predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory (the latest international well-known) P4 medicine. Through both quantitative analysis of the secondary clinical data and qualitative study of 11 cases, we demonstrate how disabled or socially excluded patients’ accessibility to medical care are improved, and the integrated, customized and culturally sensitive service can bridge the health to the social psychological wellness. Evidence of improvement including patient’s health literacy, quality of life, spirituality and wellness are also presented.