This form is essential for applying for long-term care subsidies and hiring foreign caregivers.

This form is essential for applying for long-term care subsidies and hiring foreign caregivers.

Long-Term Care 2.0 — Who’s Eligible?

If your family includes any of the following, you may qualify for Taiwan’s Long-Term Care 2.0 (LTC 2.0) services:

• Seniors aged 65 or older with disabilities

• Indigenous people aged 55 or older with disabilities

• Individuals aged 50 or older with dementia

• People of any age with physical or mental disabilities

• Elderly living alone who need help with instrumental daily activities (IADLs)

• Frail seniors who need partial assistance with daily tasks

If you meet any one of these six criteria, you can apply for a Long-Term Care Needs Assessment through your local Long-Term Care Management Center.

What Is the Barthel Index?

The Barthel Index is a clinical tool used to measure a person’s ability to perform basic daily activities.
Developed in 1955 by physical therapist Dorothea Barthel at the State Hospital in Baltimore, this index was originally designed to track rehabilitation progress among inpatients.
By 1965, it was published in medical literature and became widely used in rehabilitation and geriatric care.

In Taiwan, the Barthel Index is often required when applying for:

• Foreign caregiver permits

• Long-term care subsidies

• Home nursing or rehabilitation services

It helps medical professionals evaluate how independently an elderly person can live — and therefore determine what level of care or government support they qualify for.
👉 The lower the score, the higher the level of dependency.

When Do You Need a Barthel Index Assessment?

1. Applying for Home Nursing under National Health Insurance
   Doctors and healthcare professionals use your Barthel score to confirm eligibility for home care services.

2. Hiring a Foreign Caregiver
   A hospital-issued medical certificate and referral form are required, along with a Barthel Index assessment, to determine eligibility for hiring a foreign caregiver.

3. Applying for Long-Term Care Services
   Including:

   • Home care

   • Daycare services

   • Family foster care

   • Assistive device purchase or rental

   • Home barrier-free renovation

   • Senior meal programs

   • Transportation services

   • Long-term care institutions

   • Home nursing and rehabilitation

   • Respite care

4. Clinical Progress Evaluation
   Healthcare providers use the Barthel Index to monitor changes in a patient’s functional independence and adjust care plans accordingly.

Eligibility Standards

• Score below 35: Eligible to apply for a foreign caregiver.

• Since 2012, seniors aged 80 or older with a score below 60 (classified as “severely dependent”) may also qualify for foreign caregiver applications.

• To apply for Long-Term Care 2.0 services, applicants must meet one of the following:

  • Aged 65+ with disability

  • Indigenous aged 55+ with disability

  • Aged 50+ with dementia

  • Individuals with severe physical/mental disabilities

In-Home Assessments

Can’t visit a hospital?
You can request a home-based Barthel assessment from your local Long-Term Care Management Center if the applicant:

• Is fully paralyzed or bedridden

• Requires 24-hour use of a ventilator or life-support equipment

• Is in a vegetative state

• Holds a “severe disability” card

• Meets other qualifying criteria set by the center

How the Barthel Index Is Scored

Doctors and medical teams evaluate the person’s ability to:

• Eat independently

• Move around

• Bathe and use the toilet

• Maintain hygiene

Each item is scored:

• 0 points – Unable to perform

• 5 points – Needs assistance

• 10 points – Fully independent

The total score helps determine eligibility for foreign caregiver applications or government long-term care subsidies.

📍 Source:
National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA), Taiwan
https://www.facebook.com/nhi.gov.tw