Kinmen County Magistrate Race: Chen Yu-jen and Li Wen-liang Propose Eldercare Initiatives

In the upcoming Kinmen County magistrate election in May, Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Chen Yu-jen and independent candidate Li Wen-liang have presented starkly different governance blueprints regarding long-term care and community health issues. Chen advocates for the construction of a "second Datong Home" in Kinmen, planning a long-term care system centered around a comprehensive nursing park. In contrast, Li focuses on "community health exercise corners," combining hardware facilities with professional sports instruction to promote strength training and healthy living. Through these proposals, the two candidates are responding to Kinmen's challenges of long-term care and an aging population, attempting to win voter support with practical solutions.

Chen's concept of the "second Datong Home" stems from Kinmen’s existing Datong Home, which primarily provides long-term care, rehabilitation, and social activities. She plans to expand this facility into a comprehensive nursing park encompassing medical care, residential care, adult day care, and rehabilitation services, thereby forming a "one-stop" long-term care network. This initiative would not only increase the coverage of long-term care resources in Kinmen but also align with the KMT's policy axis of "people-oriented, long-term care first." With Kinmen's population at approximately 70,000 and residents aged 65 and over accounting for more than 20 percent, the demand for long-term care is rising rapidly. If implemented, Chen's proposal would significantly alleviate the burden on family caregivers and improve the quality of life for the elderly.

Li's proposed "community health exercise corners" focus on preventive medicine and community engagement. The plan involves setting up exercise hardware, such as treadmills and fitness equipment, in various communities, and hiring sports professionals to conduct classes in strength training, stretching, and cardiopulmonary function. This initiative aims to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases, delay functional decline, and encourage residents to actively participate in health management. As an independent candidate, Li uses the philosophy of "health first" to highlight the innovation and flexibility of local government in the field of public health, attempting to persuade voters of the importance of long-term care and health through practical solutions.

The two proposals form a contrast in their core concepts: Chen emphasizes the construction of long-term care infrastructure and the perfection of the "care system," while Li focuses on "health prevention," hoping to reduce the demand for long-term care through exercise and lifestyle improvements. If voters prioritize immediate care, Chen's proposal is more attractive; if they place greater emphasis on prevention and quality of life, Li's community exercise corners will resonate more. In reality, long-term care and health are not mutually exclusive but complementary; if the two candidates can coordinate their governance, they will be better able to meet Kinmen's diverse needs.

As an outlying island of Taiwan, Kinmen faces a strained population structure, and its offshore characteristics lead to the uneven distribution of medical resources. The dual challenges of long-term care and health exercise have become critical issues in local governance. In this election, the governance blueprints of the two candidates are not only electoral strategies but also visions for Kinmen's future social welfare system. If Chen wins, Kinmen may achieve a breakthrough in long-term care infrastructure; if Li is elected, the promotion of community health exercise may become a public health model with Kinmen characteristics. Regardless of the outcome, the choice of Kinmen voters will directly affect the direction of long-term care and health policies on the island, and provide a reference case for Taiwan's overall long-term care system.