台灣及澳洲之長期照護：長庚科技大學澳洲海外學習計畫經驗分享

Aged Care in Taiwan and Australia: Experiences from the Study Exchange Program at the CGUST

根據衛福部統計，我國於2016年7月老年人口比已達到12.87％，故人口老化與老年長期照護為我國須重視之健康問題。本文之主要目的在比較台灣與澳洲兩國之間長期照護的推動現況及未來發展。經由筆者實際參與澳洲昆士蘭科技大學（Queensland University of Technology（QUT））海外見習課程一個月結果，瞭解澳洲失智症照顧情形，協助長者為晚年做好全面計劃和安排。經由此次見習，發現到澳洲長期照護與台灣之現況顯著不同，我國目前仍持續推動長照2.0，其增加服務項目、擴大了服務對象，雖對台灣而言可說是一大進步，但仍有許多細節可改善，例如︰預算編列短缺、長期照護人員不足、偏鄉老化地區之長照服務體系建構緩慢、人力培育停頓等。本篇深入探討台灣與澳洲之長期照護理念與政策發展、組織體制、保險制度、教育系統，並分析及歸納其相異處進而統整與提供建議。期望我國未來面臨超高齡化之社會時，能建全長期照護系統，提升老年之生活品質。 In Taiwan, the elderly population of the total population reached 12.87% in July, 2016. Elderly longterm care has become an important health issue concern in Taiwan. The main purpose of this paper was to compare the current policies and developments of long-term care between Taiwan and Australia. After participated for one month in a 2016 nursing program at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). We understood the situation of dementia's care in Australia which helps elderly people arrange and the preparation for their later years. We discovered the differences of long-term care existing between Australia and Taiwan. In Taiwan, we still promote long-term care 2.0, which increases service items, expands services for seniors and disabilities. It's a big step forward in the development of Taiwanese long-term care. However, it still has some weaknesses such as budget shortage of professional care providers, human resource training stagnation, and long-term care system developing slowly in remote aging area. We discovered that the long-term health care systems between Australia and Taiwan were quite different. It was a valuable learning experience for us to share our experiences and reflections through this paper. After discussing two countries' main ideas, policy developments, organizational structures, and insurance coverage on long-term care, we understood the differences of long-term care existing between Australia and Taiwan. We provide a better understanding and advice of Australian long-term care. We look forward to achieving completed aging-care system and promoting quality of elderly life for growing aged society in the future in Taiwan.