The Research on Lifestyle, Physical and Mental Health, and Potential Consumption for Elderly

Abstract

Sustainable development contains three aspects of development including social, economic, and environmental objectives. For the sustainable social issues, the aging society has considered as the major issue and challenging problem facing by the countries of the world. In addition to the diseases and functional decline, the interpersonal interaction, social participation, and mental health would affect the lifestyle of elderly. Given the increasing numbers of aging population, the mature market is developed globally, which changes the structure of elderly consumption and commercial opportunity. With the help of Taichung City Government, a total of 600 effective samples of the survey of social and living status of the 65–75 years old elderly in Taichung City from the project of Global Research & Education on Environment and Society (GREEnS) of Tunghai University were used to study the lifestyle of elderly and their values in life. The current study used cluster analysis to determine the homogenous characteristics of elderly. Furthermore, influencing factors of daily life conditions, diet, and health status of the elderly were investigated to discuss the differences of consumption patterns among elderly. Measurement of the AIO (activities, interests and opinions) was used as a basis to access the status of lifestyle of elderly in Taiwan, and further to demonstrate the economic activities and market segmentation within the different characteristics of elderly.