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Elderly

(106 Posts)
Newquay Mon 16-Sept-19 00:01:11

Just had a conversation with a dear friend, aged 68, who, despite being fit and active, considers herself elderly. I’m just turned 70 but don’t consider myself elderly. I do realise, of course, the dear old NHS would consider me elderly but what about the rest of us? What do you think?

grandtanteJE65 Mon 16-Sept-19 14:07:58

Whenever I try to dig the garden I KNOW I am elderly, otherwise I don' t give it a thought.

I accepted about 10 years ago that I can no longer run to catch a bus.

sharon103 Mon 16-Sept-19 13:59:05

I'm 65 in December and my son refers to me as being in the 'Autumn of my life'.

chrissie13 Mon 16-Sept-19 13:55:58

When I went to the library to be photographed for my bus pass, the lady said "Did you know you're now classed as elderly, I've taken a lot of these photos and nobody has looked remotely elderly".

Missiseff Mon 16-Sept-19 13:55:58

My husband's 69, 12 years older than me, and due to retire next week. I don't think of him as elderly and he's certainly fitter than I am!

chicken Mon 16-Sept-19 13:39:32

I spent yesterday hacking out great barrowloads of brambles, I grow all my own vegetables, I recently painted the kitchen ceiling while teetering on a ladder----I'm 83. My OH is the same age, he's doddery, his memory is appalling, he spends most of the day asleep. Becoming elderly is just a matter of good or bad health.

grandmaz Mon 16-Sept-19 13:32:53

When I had my first job at 16, I looked pityingly at the 23/34 year olds, thinking how 'old' they were and how it must be awful to be that age. When I myself was 23/24, it was the thirty-somethings who were 'past it'! So now that I'm 67, I think that anyone a good few years my senior MAY be elderly, but when I reach their age, I shan't be of course! A simple case of 'if the cap fits' and mine doesn't fit just yet!grin wink

Lancslass1 Mon 16-Sept-19 13:30:30

I love it that I am asked if I mind my Christian name being used because that does not make me feel my age.
I do object to being called Dearie over the phone.
as I was recently when the person I telephoned realised how old I am.
Dearie I most certainly am not

vena11 Mon 16-Sept-19 13:21:06

I am only 66 and I am certainly don't think I am elderly, my 5 year old DGD says to me You are old granny and I say no I am not old I am just older than you.

Razzy Mon 16-Sept-19 13:18:16

Reminds me of a conversation I had with my mum who is 83, and she was going on about “the old dears”. ? I was like, but mum, you are old too...!

rockgran Mon 16-Sept-19 13:13:39

I never quite reached "middle aged" as it was always slightly ahead of me - but now I realise it must have passed me by as "elderly" is now slightly ahead of me. I'm hoping to keep "dead" slightly ahead for some time!grin

wicklowwinnie Mon 16-Sept-19 13:10:23

Not elderly and neither mature. I prefer vintage like a good wine.

Margaux Mon 16-Sept-19 13:08:02

Earlier this year, and for the first time in my life, I felt old. Really old. Not new old, as before, but elderly. I was 77, I was ill and it was a cold winter. Strangely though, I have grown younger at 78 as my health has gradually come back to normal. I am keeping my fingers crossed but I do wonder - how much of what we feel is a reflection of our state of health?

TwiceAsNice Mon 16-Sept-19 13:07:39

Definitely not elderly, not for a long time. I’m 66, am fit and active and still work part time. My only concession to getting older is to dye my hair due to the grey!

silvercollie Mon 16-Sept-19 12:58:10

Not even a grown-up yet, leave alone elderly. I am 76 but look and identify as a lot younger.

Theoddbird Mon 16-Sept-19 12:51:10

To me elderly is about a hundred... I am 68 1/2 and fairly fit. I lift weights most days and still work...194 days until I gave decided I will retire. I am just older than I was....

DoraMarr Mon 16-Sept-19 12:40:26

My mother’s 90 year old friend had cancer. her doctor said she could have some treatment that would give her another ten years or so of a good life. “Is that all?” she said.

Destin Mon 16-Sept-19 12:38:16

I think elderly is just a state of mind. At 77 I am older than I was but not yet elderly.

But I did have a charming (Italian) gentleman stand up and give me his seat on an airport bus at Milan airport today - so maybe I should rethink this theory of mine!

ReadyMeals Mon 16-Sept-19 12:32:47

I started referring to myself as "old" when I turned 65, because that's the age medical articles mean when they say "the older patient". Basically from 65 we are included in geriatric medical considerations. You may be lucky enough to feel young, but you still have to give your body the extra consideration that is due to the geriatric if you want to go on feeling that way.

Cabbie21 Mon 16-Sept-19 12:31:03

“Not as young as I used to be.” But at a year older than DH I feel ten years younger than him. It is all relative.
I don’t have as much strength or stamina as I used to.. I can’t walk too far before I need the loo, but my brain is as agile as ever.

Hymnbook Mon 16-Sept-19 12:31:02

It amazed me how l was treated in a & e last year. Spoken to as if l was gaga l was only 68 then. I'm definitely not elderly. An acquaintance is 81 she doesn't look it or act like that age. Age is just a number as they say .

knspol Mon 16-Sept-19 12:27:48

Really don't mind being called elderly or geriatric or whatever, it doesn't affect the way I feel about myself at all. Some days I feel ancient and some days I feel young, let people call me what they want.

JanaNana Mon 16-Sept-19 12:26:47

I don't consider it elderly. I'm 72 and I think it's how you feel inside....never mind what your birth certificate tells you. It's an attitude of mind I think.
Decades ago this age group would probably be classed as elderly as peoples life span wasn't as long as anticipated now.

sodapop Mon 16-Sept-19 12:24:27

Exactly paperbackwriter It's the word itself which conjures up a doddering, drooling person. I don't mind being classed as an older person or a person of mature years. Definitely not elderly.

Sara65 Mon 16-Sept-19 12:09:44

Oh goodness, no, definitely not elderly!

At 65 I’m not sure what I am, but old or elderly, absolutely not, maybe just grown up!

Paperbackwriter Mon 16-Sept-19 12:08:52

Elderly - what a truly hideous word!