• Ming-Hsien Lin, Ming-Yueh Chou, Chih-Kuang Liang, Li-Ning Peng, and Liang-Kung Chen.
• Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No 201, Sec 2, Shih Pai Road, Taipei 11217, Taiwan.
• Ageing Res. Rev. 2010 Nov 1;9 Suppl 1:S23-7.

AbstractTaiwan is one of the fastest aging countries in the world. As such, the government has developed various strategies to promote an age-friendly health-care system. Health services are supported by National Health Insurance (NHI), which insures over 97% of citizens and over 99% of health-care institutes. The current health-care system has difficulties in caring for older patients with multiple comorbidities, complex care needs, functional impairments, and post-acute care needs. Taipei, an international metropolis with a well-preserved tradition of filial piety in Chinese societies, has developed various strategies to overcome the aforementioned barriers to an age-friendly health-care system. These include an emphasis on general medical care and a holistic approach in all specialties, development of a geriatrics specialty training program, development of post-acute services, and strengthening of linkages between health and social care services. Despite achievements thus far, challenges still include creating a more extensive integration between medical specialties, promotion of an interdisciplinary care model across specialties and health-care settings, and integration of health and social care services. The experiences of Taipei in developing an age-friendly health-care service system may be a culturally appropriate model for other Chinese and Asian communities.Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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