Successful ageing: The case of Taiwan

Aim: To investigate the conditions of successful ageing in Taiwan. Methods: The respondents included two age groups, namely, 45-64 years (n = 1143), and 65 years and older (n = 1309), from a cross-section national representative survey conducted in 2007. Results: Older people faced more problems that cause depression than their counterparts. Eleven per cent of older people were in the labour market. Neither middle-aged people nor older people were actively involved in volunteer services. Those who lived longer had less social support. Over 50% felt their financial preparations for later life were not adequate. Educational levels and family income were the significant factors affecting the levels of successful ageing. Conclusions: Improvement in the four dimensions of successful ageing must be re-emphasised for both age groups.