Successful ageing: the case of Taiwan

To investigate the conditions of successful ageing in Taiwan.

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.

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.

Improvement in the four dimensions of successful ageing must be re-emphasised for both age groups.