Miracle Home: A Holistic Care Service Center for Long-Term Care

Sister Rose Chiu

Note: This blog was written by Sister Rose Chiu, Director of Miracle Home.

Miracle Home was founded in the year 2000 in response to the needs of the aging society of Taiwan. Rooted in the religious spirit of love and trust in Divine Providence, we seek to respect and care for the elderly and the disabled in order to improve their quality of life and to build a happy and peaceful neighborhood community to honor God and to show love for humankind.

Miracle Home has been providing excellent service for the neighborhood, especially in Taishan County. Through our loving care and services, the elderly and the family members’ quality of life have improved and the families have become more at home and happier. We have received much gratitude from the families who receive our day care services as well as our home care and the meals on wheels. Miracle Home’s services have been highly recognized and appreciated by the government of Taiwan and by the people. Every year, the Sisters of Providence receive awards from the Ministry of the Interior as well as from the Taipei County Government. Therefore, in July 2017, Miracle Home was commissioned by the government to be a Holistic Care Service Center for Long Term Care for Taishan County.

Miracle Home provides home care services, respite care, meals on wheels, day care services and community services for the elderly.

Sister Rose with residents at Miracle Home.

Home Care Service and Respite Care

We have five social workers/nurses and 32 persons trained as home caregivers to service 250 elderly and people with disabilities in their homes. Every day, the caregivers go from door to door to give people physical assistance and living assistance such as bathing assistance, walking assistance, etc. We also provide respite care for family caregivers.

Meals on Wheels

During the week days, we deliver 40 meals to people who have difficulty cooking for themselves, especially for those in the low-income group and the elderly who live alone. Our Meals on Wheels provides hot meals with a good and balanced diet. We also provide special meals such as soft meals when needed. The volunteers are instructed not only to deliver meals, but also to ensure that the elderly are safe, well and secure. The social worker will visit and give them assistance whenever they need it.

Residents at Miracle Home working out.

Community Services for Sub-health Elderly People

In the year 2000, we opened our convent space to the elderly of the community and provided varied activities. The aid of this service is to restore, maintain and promote independence, and support their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. The elderly people meet once a week. They come to play drums, sing karaoke and play Mahjong.

Day Care Services

In 2010, Miracle Home opened a Day Care Center providing daycare services for the elderly who have disabilities and dementia. Our daycare provides the elderly with a variety of services and activities, including assistance with eating, taking medicines, toileting, walking, as well as providing transportation services. Activities include exercise, therapy (music, arts and Crafts, gardening), cooking, games, field trips, generation activities and holiday parties, etc., and cognitive activities as well. These activities relieve the elderly of loneliness and isolation; they slow down their decline and assist them in maintaining their independence, as well as give their family caregivers a break and ease their burdens.

Sister Rose inside the Coffee Shop at Miracle Home.

Due to the great need for day care services in Taipei County, the Sisters of Providence have given up their 10 bedrooms to make space for the day care services to expand. In September, we completed the renovation. Right now, we service 50 people in the day care center. There are many people with the early onset of dementia in the day care center. Due to their special needs, we opened another unit for them on Nov. 2. We also plan to open a Coffee Shop for caregivers and clients on Nov. 24. It will provide relaxation and recreation for the caregivers as well as the elderly.