My doctor called me 'An elderly Lady.'

I always thought when you decide brogues and a padded jacket are the norm, you’re old

janeainsworth

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

Great Idea

Elderly lady sounds a whole lot better than old woman ????

I had an ecg and the dr said it showed slight changes to the heart which were not unusual for a woman of my age and that there me! I’m 63 and feel reasonably you no but he made me feel old!!

I was an elderly prima gravida at 28. I wasn't sure whether I was going to be admitted into obstetrics or geriatrics.

We lived in a New Town then and when the midwife commented on my age I replied that I thought it would be a good idea to grow up myself before I had children. She looked towards the room door beyond which was a waiting room full of women in their late teens/very early 20s and said. 'I wish more of them would follow your example.'

I was an elderly multipara when I had no.4 at the ripe old age of 31. I guess in those days people had babies at a younger age but I remember at the time I was mortified. I wonder what they call the ladies these days who have babies well into their 40 s? Ancient ?

trisher Yes, that is how they describe older men. I have DH's hospital notes in front of me. He is described as a 77 year old gentleman

It is not the first time that has been written on his notes. I think the words 'lady' and 'gentleman' are standard medical vocabulary.

I love that road sign, JaneAinsworth!

One thing that does make me feel my age (a bit, anyway). is realising how old dds are. The elder was 44 last week.

Still, my elder sister’s eldest is already past 50 so at least I’m not that old. Mind you I do remember - rather a long time ago now - being a mite appalled to realise that I had a sister who was 60 - eeek!

I don’t like the term elderly, but I’d rather see elderly frail female on my file, even if I don’t feel that. Much better than seeing decrepit old woman!

i feel sorry for the younger woman who offered to do shopping for the older people in the close.
that was a kind thing to do, and may of been of real help to somebody who couldn't get out.
if we react indignantly it may deter such consideration in future. and someone who is less able than you, may lose out.
i had a similar conversation with a woman years ago who objected to being offered a seat on the train.
don't be so ungracious. be grateful, and decline politely. think of others. encourage good deeds.

Ageism isn't about what I am called IMO, it's about how I am treated. Sorry but I can't get worked up about being called old or elderly because that is what I am. I used to be young but I'm not that anymore and I'm not middle aged either. I've recently had a health problem and I was much amused to read that my consultant had referred to me as a normally, fit and active woman in her 70's, if he'd substituted elderly for the last bit, I wouldn't have minded in the least.

I was thinking that you could have objected to the word "lady" as well. Do you think they put "elderly gentleman" on a man's file?
Of course the equivalent without "lady" would have to be "old woman" Not sure that's better!!

I was 27 witzend and on my file in large capital letters was elderly primagravida
I had a rather bolshie Australian friend when I was expecting DS. She was expecting her DS at the same time and one day at the antenatal clinic in the British Military Hospital in Hongkong, she was left on her own in a cubicle with her clinical notes.
Of course she couldn’t resist reading them and was most put out to find that the Colonel obstetrician had written AWKWARD PATIENT in red letters across the top of the first page ?

There’s a bit of self deception going on here I think ?

I was 27 witzend and on my file in large capital letters was elderly primagravida. Anyone over 25 was deemed the same. Seems crazy now.

I was down in my notes as an ‘elderly primigravida’ at 28!

IMO the objection to ‘elderly’ is the connotations of frail and vulnerable (when you emphatically aren’t there yet) though. I always think of those road signs showing two bent old dears, one with a stick.

And not just physically vulnerable, either. An elderly neighbour of ours (89) isn’t just very physically frail, she’s exactly the sort of person likely to be scammed, and has been in the past - a huge amount of money went down the drain. She was a gift to the evil bastards.

Having said that, I’ve known older people who are or were much more clued up, so not saying it’s a thing that necessarily goes with age at all.

M0nica Sorry I now have a vision of you cartwheeling down your road, and cutting down trees with an axe

Being elderly is not about what we feel. It is about who we are.

If you are over 60 you old and over 70 must expect to be described as elderly. It doesn't matter that you can cartwheel down the street, run marathons and cut trees down with an axe. If you are over 60 you are old, just as 10 year old is young or a 40 year old middle aged.

My OH is 70 and he does not seem himself as elderly. In his mind the term elderly is my mother who is in her 90's and has a loss of hearing.

At the beginning of the first Lockdown a local resident who I have never met before came to offer help with shopping to anyone living in our Close. She then said to me ‘Are there any other elderly people living in this Close’. I could have walloped her one. I think the look on my face said it all. She never returned. She should see me playing football with my grandsons. ⚽️⚽️

Technically, I am elderly. I don’t think of myself as that. I think we all move the goalposts as we get older. I’m sure my feisty-minded Dad never applied that word to himself even to the day he died aged 89 and nor will I.

Yo Esspee!
Are we allowed to say Yo at our age?

We received a copy GP letter for DH from his consultant which began "Thank you for referring this charming elderly gentleman to me who was mobile without a stick....." We laughed our heads off as DH was only 65 at the time and extremely slender and fit. We still joke about it now 10 years later and say "Oh well, at least we're still mobile without a stick" when confronting the inevitable aches etc associated with aging.

Venus, do get over yourself! Of course you're elderly!

The Triminsters of Human life that we were taught in Nursing School in the early 1970s were from

Ist Triminster, from Birth to 30years old, Young
2nd Triminster, from 30years old to 60 years old, Middle aged,
3rd Triminster, From 60 years to 90 years old, Elderly!

The first Triminster had further subdivisions into Infant, Child, Adolescent, and Young adult!

Often your status of age somewhat determined which ward you were admitted to should the need arise!