After retirement, hitting the road

The accelerating population and improvements in quality of life has produced a comprehensively rapid growth in the consumption of elderly services, according to a report by the National Committee on Aging.

The consumption capacity of the elderly has been generally improved. Although consumption expenditures of the elderly is still mainly subsistence, traditional consumption hotspots have shown a slow downward trend.

The "silver-hair industry" is expected to become a new growth point of economic development in China, the report read.

"With the rapid development of medical science and life expectancy, the physical and mental conditions of the elderly also tend to be higher," said Wang Huabing, an expert in economics with the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences.

"Meanwhile, the burden from family and offspring has also become lighter than before. Therefore, more aged people are beginning to pay more attention to quality of life," Wang said. "The proportion of their consumption for health care, culture and tourism has increased significantly. This change will affect the market economy and promote the development of the 'silver-hair industry'."

"However, due to the lack of information and awareness of fraud, the elderly have become a high-risk group for financial and health care fraud," he said. "Relevant departments of the government should strengthen supervision and accelerate policy formulation, providing more guarantees to this group."

Cheng also has some suggestions for those elderly people who intend to take long journeys — especially if they are the ones doing the driving.

"Firstly, good physical condition is necessary," the experienced TCM doctor said. "Before departure, you need to prepare some common drugs for conditions like cold, diarrhea and high blood pressure."

"If you choose a self-driving trip, please keep a safe speed on the highway and take a rest every three or four hours," he said. "With a good mentality, you will have a wonderful journey."