My doctor called me 'An elderly Lady.'

Personally I’m not elderly (73) but I do see a lot of elderly people about! ?

I am only a couple of years behind you but up until recently I thought of myself as middle aged. I struggle progressing to elderly though my children could be regarded as such now I think about it. I wear jeans for heavens sake! I don’t think we ever see ourselves as old until perhaps bad health strikes.
Carry on carrying on.

Are you sure she was talking about you Venus?

I don’t label myself as ‘elderly’ but I have to admit that the newness has definitely worn off some bits...

My 93 year old neighbour was upset when her GP described her as elderly!

I accept old, but elderly is five years older than my current age.
Kick the doctor with your Doc Martens.

In medical physiological terms you are one of the elderly, I’m afraid.

If you were middle aged that would mean living till you were 150!

I'm not old at 80 either, it's the new 60 so far as I'm concerned. When you start getting the odd twinge.

I was an "elderly prima gravida" when I had my first child. As was anybody who gave birth after 30 for the first time. I've had 40 years to get used to the word elderly it doesn't bother me now!

I think once someone stops being middle- aged they progress to being ‘older’ or ‘elderly’. It’s just a chronological description.
If you’re in your seventies, as I am, then you’re kidding yourself if you think of yourself as middle-aged.
If you think ‘elderly’ is in some way a derogatory term with negative connotations, then you’re being a bit ageist yourself.

Perhaps I should market some badges with ‘Old and Proud’ on them.

I just suppose in medical terms, the reality is your heart, liver, kidneys are 70+ years old which is all your doctor is concerned about. Not whether you colour your hair or wear skinny jeans.
?

I was laughingly commenting about that to a friend who was anA&E doctor. Oh yes, she said, when prescribing, anyone over 60 is ‘elderly’! So...

janeainsworth

I think once someone stops being middle- aged they progress to being ‘older’ or ‘elderly’. It’s just a chronological description.
If you’re in your seventies, as I am, then you’re kidding yourself if you think of yourself as middle-aged.
If you think ‘elderly’ is in some way a derogatory term with negative connotations, then you’re being a bit ageist yourself.

Bang on Jane
My thoughts exactly
It's a pathetic waste of time getting het up about age
My wonderful mom died aged 50
I wish to God she were here and in her mid 70s

Pension age is elderly however young you feel I will claim any discount that being elderly allows and there are quite a lot.

Yup, as far as the medical profession is concerned over 60s are elderly, at that age you don't 'trip over' you 'have a fall' and can be referred to the geriatric nurse for help with balance.

Personally I prefer elderly to geriatric

I think you are, in medical terms, elderly. I accept you may well look young and have a young at heart attitude.

I saw an elderly lady walking towards me the other day - it was my reflection in a window!

My dear Grandma was once asked by the Vicar to go on a coach outing for older parishioners. She was over 80 at the time and refused to go out with a lot of old people. The Vicar replied that he would need her help in various ways. Of course she went!

On my doctor's computer screen I saw that I was described as 'elderly moderately frail".
I am in my early seventies. I swim 25 lengths of the pool 3 times a week, walk everywhere as I don't drive, do all the shopping housework and gardening, cook proper meals from scratch. Last week I decorated the hall and large sitting room. I do the Telegraph cryptic crossword every day.
I asked the nurse why I was described like that on the computer. She said it is a general term they use for everybody over 65. I was most offended.

To be called an 'elder' in many cultures is an honourable description. Why is it that when the suffix -ly is added, it seems to be derogatory?

That made me LOL midgey.
Brilliant.

Elderly is anyone at least 10 years older than me. This will apply no matter how old I am.

A decent referral letter described me as a pleasant elderly lady. I agreed with two of the words .

I think there are a lot of women our age who believe they still look young and youthful.
We wear the clothes, do the hair and makeup in today’s style, walk upright etc etc.
But the truth is: we still look old. That’s unless you have friends in their 80s / 90s who tell you your still a spring chicken and how good you look.