I.m not that old. !!!

Though I turn 80 this year, I would be upset at being called geriatric! Yea, my body is slowing down, yea, I am forgetful - does that make me an old lady?

Theexwife

My sister is 60 and calls herself middleaged, I assume she is planning to live until 120.

I tend to refer to over 60 as old and over 80 as elderly.

Crumbs!! I would never regard over 60 as old. I'm now over 80 and consider myself older, but not elderly.

My mother told my father's Cardiologist she was neither deaf, daft or decrepit after being asked to leave the room to allow a constructive discussion. They were both 68 at the time.

At the age of 80 I am happy to be described as "elderly" and prefer it to being described as"old". At least we don't now use the term "old biddy" which is how my mother used to talk of any elderly woman.

I got used to being "elderly" from the start of the pandemic. Suddenly DH and I were being categorised as "elderly vulnerable" and were prioritised for vaccinations, access to Waitrose online deliveries etc for which we were very grateful. But it amused our family. We even adopted the term in our team name for online quizzes with the family. DH and I became team Evil (Elderly Vulnerable in Lockdown).

I think of having a fall as when someone in good health would not have fallen, maybe due to balance issues or not being quick enough to save themselves from falling.

I work in customer relations department of a major insurance company and get irritated when a customer family member makes out their parent is elderly some as young as 55. 64 and most definitely don’t consider myself elderly or incapable, in fact my children still come to my husband and I for lots of issues in their lives. Age is just a number and as long as you feel fit and well ignore anyone who thinks you’re no longer capable

PinkCosmos

We have one of these signs near us. There is no old people's home nearby so I am not sure why it is there.

We do live in an area that is popular with retirees though.

I prefer seniors to elderly or pensioners. I think they say this in Australia

You may like these then....

NannyKnit

This thread reminds me of something a school friend said recently (we’re just 70). She had ‘had a fall’ but preferred to think of it as having fallen over. At what age does falling over become ‘having a fall’?

I agree. Why 'had a fall'? It sounds weird. At what age do we stop 'falling over' and why?

My sister is 60 and calls herself middleaged, I assume she is planning to live until 120.

I tend to refer to over 60 as old and over 80 as elderly.

"... I was under the care of geriatric doctors..." so it's the doctors who are old...

Yes, same thing happened to me…. I was on a ward with much older people too. I felt the nurses were a bit condescending.

Just read through this thread and gave been amused by people interpretation of what has been written in letters about patients
I wonder what the doctor meant when he wrote fiercely independent And didn’t add for her age

It is probably not mentioned now as being discriminatory just as it is not correct to label anyone either able-bodied or disabled.

And yet, when we were young like these nurses, anyone over 50 was an ancient relic!! 😆

Callistemon21

^Witzend I was an 'elderly primagravida' at the same age^

I was 28 and an elderly primigravida too.

However, 28 seems to be relatively young to be having a first baby now!

Yes, I wonder if the definition of elderly primagravida has been updated?!

Witzend

I was described in my notes as an ‘elderly’ primigravida when having my first baby at 28!

I don’t recall the G word being used in any of the hospital appt. letters I received for follow up appts. (having been in hospital for 3 weeks last March) but any copies of letters between doctors certainly mentioned my age (74 then).

An undoubted fact, but it’s not exactly uplifting to see it in cold hard print!

I was only 24 and was really surprised to be called an elderly primagravida, though I was in an area where many expectant mothers were of Indian or Pakistani origin and were in their teens.

Smiling at this as I’m approaching my 64th birthday next week. Think I’m fairly modern hair jet black( with help) 😂and working still in childcare don’t retire for two years. When we go out from work I’m waiting till they say’ is this still ok for you’ I’ll reply yes and the pole dancing club will suit me fine!😂

Sorry Witzend ….i can beat that ….i was ‘elderly primagravida’ at 25😂

Bear in mind, it’s simply a medical term. There are important things that are different in our physiology over approximately 65. Certain medications are ill advised, others need care to give the correct dose. A Geriatrician is simply a specialist for our changing bodies.

Murraymint

Belated new year's greetings. I have been poorly since the start of the year, ending with a few days in hospital. The nursing staff could not have been nicer. The fact most of them were young enough to be my granddaughter s / sons, is neither here nor there. My shock came when reading my discharge letter. Apparently, I. was under the care of geriatric doctors !! I'm only 66 yo, and nowhere near geriatric. Gave my hubby and family a good laugh though.....

I was told the term came in for over 60's.

I’m 65 so probably a geriatric even though it upsets me a little I suppose in my 20s and 30s I probably felt that anyone in their 60s was geriatric too so it’s come back to bite me in the bum

grannysb

When my uncle turned 50, he got old age security forms in the mail just prior to his birthday 😂

cornergran

Letter from cardiologist about Mr C included ‘this pleasant gentleman and his supportive wife’. Suspect it was code for interfering!

Haha😂

That happened to me two years ago. I saw Geriatric wing over the door leading into the unit and I said to the doctor, I am not going in there, I can still jive.

When I had my 50th birthday I received a letter about sheltered housing!