The retirees post-retirement adaptation and their family and social support: a case study of Taipei City

• Main Authors: Chuang, Hsin Jan, 莊馨然
• Other Authors: Chen, Hsin Mu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/47237420386208889199

碩士 === 國立政治大學 === 行政管理碩士學程 === 98 === Since Taiwan became an aging country in 1993, increase in population aging rate has been more dramatic than Europe and North America. In addition to being a new aging country, decrease in fertility rate has turned Taiwan’s population structure into reverse pyramid. This phenomenon indicates a need to re-interpret senior post-retirement plans. Retirement is a crucial turning point in life; yet, retirees now face, on average, 20-30 years of retirement which is substantially longer then before. For citizens to - as captured in a Chinese saying- ‘live long live good’, improving the adaptability of post-retirement life becomes a critical question in contemporary society. This study focuses on retirees of Taipei City, their post-retirement adaptation, and family and social support received after retirement. This study conducted in-depth interviews with 10 retirees, between the ages of 56-82 and have retired for at least 2 years. The findings of this study are: 1.In terms of family support, emotional sustainment ranks as the most important element. Furthermore, the majority of interviewees reported that their source of emotional support are their children and grandchildren, then followed by spouse, family and friends. This shows company and emotional consolation provided by junior generations is a critical factor in determining whether or not the retirees adapts to the post-retirement life. 2.Secondly, in terms of instrumental support, traditional tendency to rely on children has changed, retirees now prepare and plan by themselves, as align with the change in social structure. Sometimes the retirees even provide assistance to their children, siblings and friends. In terms of information support, interviewees reported a more balanced two directional and interactive method of communication, yet another difference from traditional understanding. 3.Retirement means change of social statues, distancing of personal relationship, and etc., but through leisure and entertainment arrangement, lifelong learning program, volunteer participations, retirees gain confidence in self development and through contribution, and consequently decrease feeling of uneasiness with the change in social statues. 4.Information provided by government and social institutions on health, living arrangement, leisure and entertainment, education and volunteering opportunities, makes it possible for retirees to find suitable resource and prepare before retirement takes place. 5.From the perspective of support source, old friends and other friends/neighbors may both easily provide material resource and information, yet a major distinction lies in the fact that only old friends can offer emotional consolation. Hence, limited personal relationship still remains an irrefutable fact. 6.With the development of information technology and increase in knowledge accessibility, most of the interviewees reported no serious adaptability issues. Furthermore, they generally hold healthy attitude toward the end of life and their arrangement, accepting the natural course of life with embracement. Finally, all interviewees identified leading a healthy life to be the prime goal in post-retirement life. Recommendations based on the findings of this study: 1.The value of family should be implemented in future education to stress and maintain the concept of filial piety. 2.The government should devote specific senior subsidy and other incentive programs, because relieving financial pressure would be key to stabilizing post-retirement life. Furthermore, policies on facility and hardware establishment should focus on poularizing senior homes and dissemination of senior activity centers. 3.Options for leisure and entertainment should be expanded to maintain personal interaction and volunteer promotion, as these are effective ways for retirees to share their valuable life experience as well as crucial source for confidence-building. 4.Education on the diversity of post-retirement life and information on health care should be community-based, rendering knowledge more accessible to the population would better encourage understanding and preparation before retirement.