Do you call yourself old?

I'm not old or middle-aged. I'm ME and I just happen to be 62!

I think that should be 'too old', glass!

I dont think any of us on here as old...... anyway old is dead

I'm 57 but in my head I'm 37 (in my dreams!)

Last year when my mother (84) was in hospital she referred to the lady (91) in the next bed as 'the old lady'

Yes, BlueSky! I think that's perfectly acceptable - sounds rather sexy!

"Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional"! This is exactly the way I feel, I certainly don't feel or want to be called old, perhaps "Older woman"....?

A lot of you said mixing with young people is good and I agree - I work 2 afternoons a week on the Internet Shopping section [my retirement job] and everyone is really young in that department. I love it and we get on really well, keeps me in the loop as they say. Whereas a friend of mine who is fully retired and seems to mix with very old people - she is becoming older then she needs to .

wotsamashedupjingl hence the term melderly

How about "senior" as an alternative to elderly or old?

I got ticked off [gently] in a meeting when I said the word 'elderly' and was told it was now 'older people'! It's not against the law - yet

I'm 'old' when it's convenient eg when the GC want me to do something I don't want to and I have no compunction about waving my senior railcard at the railway station. It can be beneficial to be 'old'.

At least with 'elderly' you've still got 'old' to get to. With 'third agers', well, is there a fourth?!

Well I don't know about against the law but in Social Care it is certainly frowned upon to refer to people as 'elderly' we have to call them (us?) 'older people'. But then again we are not allowed to refer to people as 'clients' or 'service users' any more either. We have to call people who use our services (or have them foisted upon them) 'citizens'. It's all bonkers to me. And I would definitely be sacked, hung, drawn and quartered for using that term. Bring on retirement!!

Ooh, no! Sounds too much like Close Encounters.....

Greatnan this is spot-on "you don't stop being young because you have grown old - you grow old when you stop being young."
By that definition I will never be old It really is all in the mind.

I accept that definitions have their place, and I rather like the definition of the 'Third age' Can we be third-agers please?

Yes, jeni, I sometimes feel as if I'd been dug up.

No, antique or of archeological interest

What's the legal alternative, then? Old?

I think it was the bloke ?Rett

It can't be against the law! I don't believe it!

My husband's contract says he treats elderly and infirm patients. I passed this info on to someone (young) wanting a home visit and was told it was against the law to say "elderly"! So there!! We can't possibly be elderly!

Nanachrissy, my sentiments exactly, although i have to say I am working on the overweight , as I"m fed up with being probably a stone overweight and getting bored with it . Anyway , it will be a nice little project for the next few months, to get it off . Annobel , thanks for the info. it was really helpful , you all have a lovely sat. eve. me and my DH will , might even have a glass or two dash , there goes diet , still tommorrow is another day (was it scarlett who said that )

FlicketyB you do not go from middle-aged to old!

There is an in-between.

And, yes. You have got to be something!

Well, I like the word 'elderly'! It's better than 'old' (which no-one is until they are at least eighty). And how can you possibly call yourself 'middleaged' at seventy?! Well, alright, if you really think you're likely to live until you're a hundred and forty!

Thanks for being so knowledgeable about that Annobel I knew the basics but not the full in depth explanation.