Taipei is making it cheaper for older residents to set up advance medical care instructions, good news for seniors and their families.

• From September 1, seniors using the city's senior citizen card get a bigger subsidy for advance care planning consultations at Taipei City Hospital.
• They can also use points on the card to knock off more of the cost, cutting the bill sharply from the standard fee.
• A new group option puts three unrelated households through the consultation together, and it is free for those 65 and older.
• Signing the final document requires a close family member and an adult witness present on the day.
• Taipei residents have already signed tens of thousands of these directives, and more than half of the signers are seniors.

Outlook: Cheaper and free group sessions should push signup numbers higher through the rest of the year.