Successful Aging Awareness and Retirement Preparation in a Sample of Medical Center Employees

The purpose of this study was to explore successful aging awareness and retirement preparation as well as to examine the relationship between the two among employees in a medical center prior to their retirement. The sample included medical center employees who were 45 years of age or older (n=174, with completion rate of 56.3%). Data were analyzed using factor analysis and multiple regression models. Six components to successful aging were identified as learning and social life, economy and health expenses, environment and society welfare, family relationships, health, and positive thinking. Seven retirement preparation factors were learning and social life, environment and social welfare, family relationships, financial security, psychological and physical health, social relationships, and spirituality and religion. Increased awareness of learning and social life, environment and society welfare, economy and health expense, and health correlated with more adequate over all retirement preparation. Successful aging awareness and retirement preparation should be promoted via lifelong education.