Best Practice in Home-Based Medical Care for Neurodegenerative Diseases: the Taiwan Model

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health Policy
• Neurology

Background:

• Aging societies face increasing challenges from neurodegenerative diseases.
• Traditional hospital-centered care models are insufficient for aging populations.
• Home-based medical care (HBMC) offers an alternative care delivery model.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the development and implementation of Taiwan's HBMC model for neurodegenerative diseases.
• To analyze policy evolution, program structure, and outcomes of Taiwan's HBMC.
• To explore integration with various care services and digital health technologies.

Main Methods:

• A narrative policy review and descriptive synthesis approach was used.
• The study synthesized Taiwan's policy developments, programmatic structures, and implementation outcomes.
• Integration with advance care planning, acute care, home health care, post-acute care, and hospital-at-home models were examined.

Main Results:

• Taiwan's HBMC evolved through three stages since 1995, culminating in a digitally enabled hospital-at-home model in 2024.
• The program shows strong structural capacity, effective processes (telemedicine, point-of-care testing), and positive outcomes.
• Outcomes include reduced hospital use, lower healthcare costs, and effective care for impaired older adults.

Conclusions:

• Taiwan's HBMC model demonstrates feasibility and effectiveness for neurodegenerative diseases.
• Integrated home-centered care is a viable strategy for aging populations.
• The Taiwanese experience offers transferable insights for global healthcare systems.