
The Center for Mature Consumer Studies Research Report
LIST OF SEGMENT-SPECIFIC RESEARCH REPORTS
4. Baby Boomers and Their Parents : Surprising Findings About Their Lifestyles, Mindsets, And Well-Being
The manuscript contains information about a wide variety of topics relevant to baby boomers and older adults. This information should be of interest of millions of people in these two generations that face a wide variety of circumstances specific to their stage in life, such as concerns about aging and old age, health problems, finances, retirement, and care-giving responsibilities. The information helps them compare and validate their own circumstances to those at similar life stages, giving these individuals a better understanding of issues they face and their well-being relative to others.
In addition, because of the increasingly large number of years people are spending at late stages of life(as a result of recent dramatic increase4 in life expectancy), the manuscript emphasizes the need for people of nay age to plan for longevity.
By presenting information from our research, as well as from other studies, this project makes people aware of many factors that promote longevity and enhance a person’s well being in later life. Based on this information, we suggest actions that should be taken today to help one live a longer and happier life. ($500.00, 200 pages)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
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CHAPTER 1.
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OVERVIEW |
1 |
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a. The Aging Of The Population |
3 |
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b. Why We Should Be Concerned |
5 |
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c. About Our Studies Of Baby Boomers And Their Parents |
7 |
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d. Some Surprising Findings |
7 |
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• Physical and emotional well-being |
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• How they feel about old age and aging |
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• Financial well-being |
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• Millionaires are not what you think |
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• Lifestyles |
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• Buying habits |
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• What they have, what they want |
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• Their main concerns |
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CHAPTER 2.
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WHAT’S ON THEIR MIND AS THEY AGE |
26 |
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a. Feeling, Thinking and Acting Younger |
27 |
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b. Defying Aging |
31 |
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c. Concerns and Desires |
35 |
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• Health |
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• Money |
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• Old age |
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• Day-to-day living |
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• Work and retirement |
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• Relationships |
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• Personal safety |
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• Having fun |
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• Staying healthy |
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• Caring and giving |
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CHAPTER 3.
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PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING |
58 |
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a. Physical Health |
60 |
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• Chronic conditions |
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• Recent health problems |
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• Medications |
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• The role of heredity |
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• Patterns of disease development |
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• Health-related lifestyles |
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b. Emotional Health |
74 |
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• Stress |
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• Depression |
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c. It Matters What And How We Think |
80 |
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CHAPTER 4.
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LIFESTYLES |
91 |
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a. Living Arrangements |
92 |
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b. Work After Retirement |
94 |
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c. Lifelong Learning |
97 |
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d. Leisure |
100 |
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• Travel |
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• At-home leisure activities |
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• Attendance of events |
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• Other leisure activities |
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e. Volunteering |
106 |
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f. Religiosity |
107 |
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g. Caregiving |
108 |
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h. Preparing for Old Age |
110 |
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• Awareness of older adults’ needs |
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• Preparation for old age |
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CHAPTER 5.
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FINANCIAL AFFAIRS |
114 |
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a. Spending Habits |
115 |
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• Use of Credit |
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b. Saving Habits |
118 |
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c. Financing Retirement |
122 |
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d. The Affluent |
124 |
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• Differences between the two generations |
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• Millionaires vs. non-millionaires |
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• Self-made vs. old money |
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CHAPTER 6.
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WHAT THEY HAVE, WHAT THEY USE |
139 |
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a. What They Own |
140 |
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• The older folks have more |
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• The American dream |
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• Appliances and home furnishings |
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• Other possessions |
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b. What Kinds of Services They Prefer |
147 |
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• Financial services |
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• Travel & leisure |
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• Insurance services |
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• Health care |
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CHAPTER 7.
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BUYING HABITS |
153 |
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a. Reasons for Patronage |
155 |
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• Restaurants |
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• Grocery/food stores |
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• Department stores |
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• Lodging |
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• Airlines/Cruise lines |
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• Financial institutions |
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• Insurance companies |
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• Hospitals |
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• Physicians & surgeons |
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b. Buying Products |
162 |
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• Choosing specific brands |
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• At home buying |
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• Reasons for direct buying |
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• Information sources |
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• The influence of relatives |
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• Loyal customers |
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• Preferences for methods of payment |
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c. Dis/Satisfaction and Complaining |
180 |
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d. Excessive Buying |
182 |
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CHAPTER 8.
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PLANNING FOR LONGEVITY |
186 |
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a. Determinants of Longevity and Life Satisfaction |
187 |
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• Physical and emotional health |
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• Positive attitude |
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• Active lifestyle |
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• Financial assets |
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b. Strategies for Longevity and Well-being |
191 |
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• Adding Years to Your Life |
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• Improving Quality of Life |
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REFERENCES