About Center
I. Purpose of Establishment
Taiwan has already become an aged society in 2018, with people aged 65 and over accounting for more than 14% of the total population. The trend of aging continues to progress, and it is expected to enter a super-aged society in 2025, with the proportion of elderly people exceeding 20%. As people aged, their health will gradually decline and the burden on the medical system will increase accordingly. The College of Medicine of National Cheng Kung University established the "CYCH-NCKU Geriatric Medicine Research Center" to cope with the impact and needs of older persons, healthcare institutions, and aged society. Through the integration of basic medicine, clinical medicine, psychosocial, and big data research, we hope to propose best suitable solutions to the problems of Taiwan's aged society, meet the needs of patients and healthcare settings, and increase our contribution of the overall society.
II. Vision
1. FOR older adults: health, independence, autonomy, joy, connection, and spirituality.
2. FOR society: a productive aged society that accepts older adults.
3. FOR the center: construct a geriatric medicine research ecosystem with diverse expertise, have a power pump to promote the integration of trans-disciplinary evidence-based research on geriatric medicine, and become a self-sufficient geriatric medicine research platform. Also have the social impact to solve important issues of aging.
For the older adults, maintaining their health and functional independence in promoting their work and social participation can play a positive role for their family, community, and society. In terms of medical care, we emphasize to enhance the ability of early diagnosis and intervention, develop novel medical care models, and provide precision medicine and digitalized strategies for the older adults’ health. To improve the medical care and save health insurance resources, we will also develop AI smart medical network, as well as the popularization of assistive technology in communities. Our ultimate goal is to participate in government policy making and solve critical issues related to geriatric medicine
II. Center Positioning and Networking
The "CYCH-NCKU Geriatric Medicine Research Center " is positioned as a catalyst platform to promote geriatric research, which enhance the connection between basic research and clinical medicine, and develop trans-disciplinary integrated geriatric medicine projects. In response to population aging, we expect to develop a new ecosystem of geriatric medicine in the College of Medicine of National Cheng Kung University (Neo-ecosystem), with the collaboration of basic to clinical research, supplementation by forward-looking medical materials and assistive technology, and linkage big data and smart medical care. With the
the College of Medicine of National Cheng Kung University as the central, we will construct a new ecosystem (neo-ecosystem) of geriatric medicine from hospital to community, from frailty to health. We hope to construct geriatric medicine researches with diverse expertise, promote the integration of trans-disciplinary evidence-based research on geriatric medicine, and set up a research platform for sustainable development of the comprehensive geriatric medicine research.
In addition, the center also has the function of promoting education, providing consultation and related courses on aging research. The linked units include: (1) Teaching and research units within National Cheng Kung University that are interested in aging issues and research. (2) The NCKU Hospital system, including NCKU Hospital, Geriatric Hospital, Douliu Branch, etc. (3) External medical institutions, including Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chimei Hospital, E-Da Hospital, long-term care facilities, community care units, and other acute and chronic medical care institutions.