With the steady drop in the birthrate and the concomitant dwindling of the workforce, a growing proportion of young and middle-aged adults are looking after old people. It is estimated that by 2027, 20 % of Taiwan's population-one in five-will be elderly, which will place a heavy burden on society.
生育率節節下降，隨之而來的勞動生產力不足，青壯年撫養老年人口比例上升，行政院經建會預估二十多年後（民國一百一十六年），老年人口比例將超過 20％，換句話說，五個人中就有一位是老年長者，屆時社會的整體負擔將十分沈重。