Research Article

Applying the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process Method to Evaluate Key Indicators of Health Promotion Policies for the Elderly in Taiwan

Table 2

Preliminary indicators of health promotion policies for Taiwan’s aging society.

AspectsIndicatorsExplanation

Healthy livingPromotion of personal health awareness and behaviorImprovement of older adults’ oral, physical, psychological, and social health concepts. Promotion of self-care behavior for the purpose of prolonging the lifespan of the elderly. Strengthening awareness of healthy diet and nutrition, smoking cessation, medication, exercise, and regular living habits. Improvement of the health awareness of older adults and promotion of healthy behaviors.
Well-planned health promotion plans for the elderlyPlanning of health promotion policies and plans aimed at older adults, including plans focusing on diet and nutrition, oral healthcare, exercise skills, and mental health. Refinement of various medical service strategies for older adults. Use of health promotion activity programs to improve the self-care and health capabilities of the elderly.
Promotion of home medical servicesPromotion of home medical services using home care teams. Provision of integrated community medical services. Assisting older adults needing postacute care or with disabilities to return to their homes. Provision of friendly medical services for the elderly, strengthening continuous care, and ensuring healthy living for the elderly.
Seamless integration of medical services and social careConnecting the postacute care, community rehabilitation, and long-term care systems using information technology. Constructing a comprehensive, convenient continuous care system so that older adults and their family members can live healthy lives at home with peace of mind after breaks in medical care.

Happy familyTraining long-term care service personnel and providing professional medical careActively introducing various types of training concerning long-term care services. Providing dual-track training of long-term care personnel through vocational training and school education. Planning and developing a professional grading system for long-term care personnel. Developing a diversified manpower portfolio and providing professional healthcare to older adults in order to relieve family members’ psychological pressure. Offering sustainable long-term care services and promoting family well-being.
Planning a family caregiver support service systemWith the goal of improving the overall well-being of older adults and their families, planning an active family caregiver support service system to enhance the connection and integration between older adults and their family members, which will effectively ease families’ care burden and enhance their overall well-being.
Promoting connection and mutual assistance between families and the communityPlanning of family-centered policies in response to changes in household structure and social values, design of innovative activities promoting interaction between the elderly and other family members, promotion of communication between generations, strengthening of cooperation between families and the community, and facilitation of community mutual care for older adults.
Guaranteeing the economic security of the elderlyImproving economic security protection mechanisms and the pension system for the elderly. Establishment of knowledge concerning financial management and insurance planning for the elderly, which will allow the sharing and reduction of the economic risks and enable older adults to enjoy economic stability and a worry-free and healthy retired life.

Vibrant societyPromotion of participation by older adultsActive promotion of participation by the elderly in work and provision of a friendly environment for elderly employment. Appropriately adjusting working hours, work content, and working format in accordance with the age and health status of older employees and alleviation of the physical and mental health effects of the rapid change in older adults’ roles after retirement.
Encouragement of the elderly to participate in voluntary serviceAvoiding the impact of retirement on older adults' daily activities. Promotion of retirement preparation education and services for the elderly. Helping the elderly to actively plan their retirement lives and encouraging their participation in volunteer service intended to give back to society. Developing diverse innovative service model for volunteers, with the goal of slowing the aging process and promoting health.
Promotion of an education and learning system for older adultsApplication of the flipped classroom concept. Integration of the lifelong learning education system. Comprehensive promotion of training for older adult education professionals. Establishment of professional qualification certification for senior citizens. Encouragement of older adults to contribute their wisdom and pass on their experience by becoming teachers and encouragement of lifelong learning so that the elderly can continue to learn while growing old and achieve the goal of active aging.
Encouragement of creative thinking concerning services for older adultsEncouragement of innovative service thinking geared toward the demands of older adults. Active investment in the development of the equipment, products, and services required to meet the food, clothing, housing, transportation, and entertainment needs of an aging society and satisfying the current and future living and health promotion needs of older adults.

Friendly environmentEstablishment of a network of continuous service resourcesConnection of different types of information, materials, goods, and services through the Internet of things and the Internet. Connection of local physical payment services to form a comprehensive resource network providing services. Satisfying the diversified service needs of the future’s aging society and promoting healthcare.
Establishment of community service resource centersBuilding hubs integrating resource networks to provide convenient and safe living for the elderly. Establishing integrated community service resource centers. Establishing comprehensive community resources allowing older adults to age in place. Ensuring personal safety and improving medical care for the elderly.
Creation of friendly living facilities and spacesPromoting mechanisms ensuring that public construction better serves older adults. Comprehensive review and revision of relevant laws and regulations governing buildings, spatial design, and housing. Promoting senior-friendly public transportation facility spaces and environments (including software and hardware amenities and equipment) and creating senior-friendly living environments.
Review of laws, regulations, and public educationComprehensive review and amendment of relevant laws and regulations in order to eliminate age discrimination and barriers so that society as a whole has a more positive understanding and acceptance of older adults and helps older adults enjoy healthy aging. Use of the national compulsory education and public education system to instill a positive understanding of and respect for the elderly among the public.

Source: author’s comprehensive collation.