Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

The opening ceremony for the city’s first dementia day care unit “Ran-He-Xuan” took place at Taipei City Hospital Renai Campus on December 23. Dignitaries attending the ceremony include Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin, City Councilor Wang Hao, and actress Miao Ke-li; the TV celebrity is serving as a one-day volunteer at the center.
Unlike other care facilities for dementia patients, the Ran-He-Xuan is the first dementia day care unit in the city to be funded and managed by the municipal hospital. With the involvement of medical professionals including doctors, nurses, dieticians, rehabilitation instructors, and psychiatrists, the unit offers patients not only medical treatments but also additional services not as readily available at other institutions. For example, Ren-He-Xuan offers rehabilitation trainings to help patients retrieve skills necessary for day-to-day living.
Moreover, the ward also serves as a venue for on-site training, allowing medical students to practice taking care of dementia patients.
According to hospital officials, the facilities in the center have been designed to meet the special needs of patients. The obstacle-free rest rooms, collision-proof walls, sunbathing room, and walking spaces create a comfortable and safe environment for patients during their stay.
Mayor Hau indicated that Taipei is rapidly becoming an aged society, with senior citizens accounting for 12.6 percent of the city’s population. In other words, one out of seven residents will be above the age of 65. He stressed that the funding for the day care center is the realization of his policy to ensure quality health service for the elderly.