支持家庭照顧者的長期照護政策之構思

Abstract

本文試圖從「就地老化」為老人長期照護政策目標之角度切入，研提支持家庭照顧者的政策規劃之構思。內容分為四部分，首先分析家庭在長期照護政策脈絡下的角色與功能，此部分的論述係以家庭是照顧社會依賴成員的照顧資源之預設出發，說明家庭可發揮的功能為提供直接照顧以及連結正式組織；其次將家庭照顧者視為正式服務體系的案主，描述照顧者之負荷壓力、心路歷程及福利需求；接著引介西方工業先進國家實施支持家庭照顧者政策和措施之作法；最後分析國內近年來支持家庭照顧者政策的發展脈絡，評述目前的作法，進而提出建議以供未來規劃政策之參考。

The aim of this paper is to formulate a long-term care policy that will respond to the welfare needs of family caregivers. Aging in place becomes the goal for long-term care policy since 1960s in Western society, under this policy context, the role that family play in care for the disabled resumes its importance apparently. Many service programs and measures have been employed to assist the family to care for their family members. This paper is comprised of four parts; firstly, we describe the role of family play in care for their dependent members based on the assumption that family is the basic support institution for its members. Secondly, we explore the stress and burden when family members acquire their caregiver role, and furthermore, the welfare needs of family caregivers are presented. Thirdly, we briefly introduce social welfare policy and programs have been implemented in Western society. Finally, suggestions for long-term care policy in Taiwan have been discussed.