There have been many similar cases, but it is particularly troubling that some of the victims were excluded from the social welfare safety net because they did not meet eligibility criteria. When members of the middle class slip into the lower socioeconomic strata, they might be overlooked by social welfare agencies simply because they own a home or have children who are employed. By government standards, someone like her — who owns a home, has children and is still able to get around — would likely be excluded from long-term care services. It might be precisely this gap in the social welfare system that causes many people who are in need of timely assistance to fall through the cracks. Long-term care qualifications might differ, but suffering does not distinguish between rich and poor.

Source: Taipei Times January 23, 2026 17:28 UTC