Long-Term Care Facilities and Government Preparedness for Complex Disasters, including Radiation Disasters, in Taiwan

Japan has experienced complex disasters in recent years, including radiation disasters, which have made evacuation of older individuals critical. In October 2023, we visited Taiwan, which has an aging population and disaster risk similar to Japan. This study highlights the disaster preparation endeavors of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and the government using examples of daycare centers for older individuals; firefighting experts conducting mandatory accident and injury prevention; and evacuation drills in response to fire, earthquakes, and other disasters. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has centralized the management of medical information and information on LTCFs; however, this is not centrally integrated. To facilitate disaster management and evacuation, central integration and management of medical and LTC information is necessary. Reflecting on the aforementioned issues, the integration and management of medical and LTC information at the central and domestic levels and the delay of information needed for disaster management should be considered when considering disaster preparedness for Japan and Taiwan.