Labor minister defends Barthel Index in elderly care

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) on Thursday (June 13) defended the Barthel Index (巴氏量表) as an objective tool for assessing the disability of senior individuals.

Speaking at a meeting in the Legislative Yuan, the MOL head highlighted that introducing three additional diverse certification methods last year has effectively met the needs of the elderly over 80.

Ho emphasized, "The Barthel Index is innocent and should not be politicized,"noting that the number of elderly over 80 applying for migrant caregivers using the Barthel Index has dropped to 30%.

The Legislative Yuan's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee (立法院社會福利及衛生環境委員會) resumed its review today of the proposed amendments to Article 46 of the Employment Service Act (就業服務法).

The discussion centered on whether to relax the conditions for applicants over 80 years old seeking migrant caregivers without a professional assessment from medical institutions.

Several legislators have proposed amendments to the Employment Service Act, suggesting that the assessment requirement of the Barthel Index be waived for care recipients over 80.

This proposal has sparked discussions across various sectors of society.

While some families in need of long-term care believe that easing these conditions would better meet their needs, some legislators worry that it could marginalize individuals with severe disabilities.

Ho called for rational discussions and careful decision-making among the public and legislators to avoid the potential exclusion of those with severe disabilities if the Barthel Index were abruptly abolished.

The ongoing debate underscores the challenge of balancing the needs of Taiwan's aging population with the resources available for long-term care. As the committee continues its review, the outcome will significantly impact the elderly and the caregivers who support them.

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