Aging Services and Childcare Resource Distribution from Spatial and Environmental Justice Perspectives: Theory and Practice of Locational Equity

Background: This research examines the distribution of elderly and child welfare resources in Taiwan through the lens of spatial and environmental justice. The paper highlights that climate change disproportionately affects impoverished and marginalized populations (Kwan & Walsh, 2015), creating an urgent need for social work intervention as emphasized by Hopp (2022). Taiwan presents a particularly significant case study, facing both severe demographic challenges (low birth rates and rapid aging) and heightened climate vulnerability due to its location in the Pacific region. The research investigates whether aging care systems (including community and medical facilities) and public childcare systems are equitably distributed geographically in relation to climate risk areas.

Methods: Using administrative data from Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare converted into spatial location data at the township level. The study employs multi-level modeling to control for regional and temporal variations across all townships in Taiwan. Our spatial analysis through bivariate tests, spatial autocorrelation, and regression models reveals significant geographic disparities in care service distribution relative to climate vulnerability.

Results: Findings from this study reveal concerning patterns of service distribution inequity when analyzed through spatial autocorrelation and regression models. Areas with higher vulnerability indices to climate-induced disasters such as floods and earthquakes demonstrate statistically significant deficits in community and care resources (p<0.01). The spatial distribution analysis indicates that public childcare welfare services in remote townships are significantly underrepresented compared to public long-term care services (Moran's I=0.42), creating systematic disadvantages for vulnerable children residing in climate-impacted communities. This service gap presents substantial challenges for vulnerable families in geographically isolated regions, particularly during environmental emergencies. Furthermore, bivariate analysis reveals these high-risk regions experience significant shortages in qualified social work personnel (r=-0.38, p<0.05), resulting in diminished service accessibility and compromised disaster preparedness infrastructure for both pediatric and geriatric populations.

Conclusion and Implications: These findings highlight critical resource distribution inequities in climate-vulnerable areas, necessitating multi-level responses. Policymakers should incorporate climate vulnerability into funding formulas, prioritizing high-risk regions. Service delivery innovations—including mobile units and technology-supported models—could address immediate gaps while sustainable solutions develop. Educational incentives and specialized training are needed to address social worker shortages in vulnerable communities. Cross-sector collaboration between social services, emergency management, and climate science organizations is essential. Further research should evaluate intervention effectiveness and engage affected communities. Ultimately, addressing these disparities is both a practical necessity and an ethical imperative aligned with social work's commitment to justice.