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Answer:
Dear Ms. Little,
Your
thoughts are right on target...the American population
is indeed an increasingly older one. The "graying
of America" is not just a trendy term but is, in fact,
an accurate description of what's happening across
the nation.
I
recommend that you make two lists: one of the specific
things older people need for survival and the second
one of various things people in the 50+ crowd like
and enjoy. Then seek out the leading companies within
each group or industry. Some possibilities...
Necessities
Prescribed
medications
Over-the-counter drugs
Medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes,
oxygen
Supply systems, hospital beds, pill-monitoring devices
Long-term health care insurance
Assisted living and nursing home facilities
Patient-monitoring systems
Biometric monitoring devices
Other
Quality of Life Items
Downsized
housing
Senior community housing
Senior-friendly bathrooms and kitchens
Home security systems
Vitamins & herbal supplements
Leisure time activities, equipment and clothing
This
last category could include such things as golf, boating,
card and table games, RVs, books & DVDs, hiking, cross-country
skiing, houseboat rentals, bicycles, in-home treadmills
and other work-out equipment.
Note:
In terms of housing, older people often gravitate
toward communities in warm areas as well as specially
designed condos on or near college campuses.
You
may also want to look into publicly traded companies
that are involved in cutting-edge entertainment equipment,
such as those that manufacture and/or distribute items
for the new style home entertainment centers. Here
you will encounter plasma televisions, media center
edition computers (MCEs), game tables and remote controls
for lighting and sound.
For
help in determining the leading companies in these
various fields, check out Value Line Investment
Survey. This independent research publication
covers over 1,500 stocks, arranged by industry. It
is updated weekly and available at many libraries.
For details: www.valueline.com.
Be
sure to select stocks of companies with low debt,
continually improved earnings and a substantial research
and development budget.
Good
luck!
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