AB084. Occupational safety and health for long-term care workers in Taiwan: a literature review and future research perspectives

Background: As Taiwan’s population ages, the demand for long-term care (LTC) has grown rapidly, prompting the government to enact the “Long-Term Care Services Act” in 2015 to improve service quality and accessibility. While existing LTC research has largely focused on service delivery, workforce retention, and manpower allocation, studies in occupational safety and health (OSH) highlight significant workplace hazards and risks faced by frontline care workers. Yet these two research streams rarely intersect in Taiwan, leaving OSH concerns insufficiently incorporated into LTC workforce and policy discussions. This gap underscores the need to examine potential shortcomings in current OSH protections for care workers.

Methods: A narrative review was conducted using English and Chinese studies published between 2010 and 2025, retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Airiti-Library with keywords on LTC workers and OSH in Taiwan. Government press releases and reports from the Ministry of Labor and the Administration for Long-Term Care were also examined to contextualize policy developments.

Results: Nine empirical studies, mainly cross-sectional surveys, documented substantial physical and psychosocial burdens among LTC workers, including musculoskeletal strain related to lifting and transferring, time pressure, emotional stress, and fatigue. Moreover, two policy evaluations identified gaps in institutional prevention strategies, limited use of ergonomic aids, and weak connections between OSH requirements and LTC payment or accreditation systems. Government reports further noted persistent staffing shortages, elevated injury risks, and fragmented oversight between OSH and LTC authorities, revealing structural deficiencies in protecting the LTC workforce.

Conclusions: Current evidence shows that LTC workers in Taiwan face significant workplace hazards that are insufficiently addressed under existing OSH and labor protection frameworks. The disconnect between OSH research and LTC policy contributes to gaps in prevention, oversight, and workforce safeguards. Strengthening the integration of OSH principles into LTC regulation, payment design, and workforce management is essential for improving the safety, sustainability, and equity of the LTC system.

Keywords: Long-term care workers (LTC workers); occupational safety and health (OSH); literature review