My doctor called me 'An elderly Lady.'

THIS THREAD IS FROM 2021.

And ??

When these old threads are resurrected it’s nearly always by a member who has never posted before.
I know I’m not the only one who has a theory on this.

trisher

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 was an ‘elderly’ primigravida too, at 28!

Last year after I had a nasty dose of pneumonia there was some correspondence between the hospital consultant and my GP, so I was glad the consultant didn’t refer to me as ‘elderly’ - he just stated my age, then 74. I don’t know whether it helps that I’ve never gone grey.

It’s genetic - my mother - formerly what they used to call a ‘strawberry blonde’ - still wasn’t properly grey when she died at 97. At 80 her hair was still a somewhat faded ‘golden’ - there was a serious falling out with a neighbour who refused to believe that she didn’t dye it!

Agree with janeinsworth above. It's just a description 🤣. If you are old it fits. Not anything negative. In many places older folks are respected for their wisdom. Sadly in the western nations, no longer true.

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.

Agree! Elderly just means you're not in the middle of an average lifespan which would be 45 or 50. Get over it and stop feeling ashamed that you have reached elderly years in life. So many would be jealous of such good health.

Geez 2021? I got duped

At 70 I regard myself as "an old lady" and it suits me fine.
The word "old" is generally avoided like the plague, especially in relation to human beings but I really believe it's time we stopped being so squeamish and prim about it and started owning it again in a positive way.

The term I absolutely loathe is "Senior Citizen". It's ever so delicately twee and makes me think I shouldn't ever leave the house without my smelling salts......

petra

When these old threads are resurrected it’s nearly always by a member who has never posted before.
I know I’m not the only one who has a theory on this.

So?

I'm considered very old at 80 years but I have just come back from a 14 night cruise and I managed to stay up dancing until 1.30 in the morning. Live life, age is a number.

Medically speaking someone over 70 is elderly . Outward appearances are only part of the picture and however much one colours one hair and makes similar adjustments, the body clock still says elderly . In these days of political correctness and accusations of lack of respect I think a doctor should be able to speak plainly without pussyfooting around a subject and looking for euphemisms.

I totally agree with MerylStreep - you absolutely can’t fool nature . That’s why Botox , cosmetic surgery and expensive
creams are vain and useless . Enjoy what you can , for as long as you can and remember that life consists of one generation following another.

And this old thread from way back in 2021, when Methuselah was nowt but a lad and dinosaurs roamed the Earth is still perfectly valid and worth contributing to, because nothing has changed except the date!

A few years ago my Aunt (aka Aged Aunt) broke her wrist and was admitted to a Nursing home while she recovered its use. 6 weeks later she ran to the car to return home. "It's full of old people" she said, "and most of them are ga-ga. If I stay any longer I will be ga-ga too!" She was 92. Her broken wrist was caused by a fall. The "Social" had insisted she wore non-slip slippers (!) because of her age and they no longer slipped over her carpet - so she fell.

I am 77 and

Whoops! Lost the end - "and I am less mobile than she was at 92".

A couple of the GP's at our practice are in their 60's so they're not a great deal younger than many of their patients.
The rest of the team are considerably younger but they all refer to the 'older generation' as mature ladies/gentlemen in communication and notes etc.
But then again, perhaps they also think that anyone under a certain age is immature??

I was annoyed to read on my notes on the NHS app following a consultation with a young GP that she had put "Has capacity to make decision". Grrrrrrrr!

Well OP you’re not young, you’re not even middle-aged. 75 is elderly and that’s a simple fact. I’m 67 and have accepted that I’m elderly and refer to myself as an old lady. I don’t look my age and certainly don’t feel it in my head (sometimes in my body) but a doctor especially is aware of your age and how it affects you physically.

I realise it’s an old thread but still interesting to read I think.
I wonder how Venus is now and if she’s still a contributor to GN?
I think we all tend to fool ourselves about age, I know my own Mum does😄

I remember thinking my nana was really old when I was a little girl and she was in her 60's. Mind you back then nana's did look older. They loved the clear plastic worn over their hairdo after a shampoo and set. Don't see those anymore - and the crimplene coats and stays.

I look back fondly on my auntie who at aged 79 used to call people a little older than her "old people".

Esspee

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

Esspee,

You got it 🤣🤣🤣🤣

It's often the case that we wonder whether or not to present ourselves to the doctor as we really look : or as we convince ourselves that are as we make ourselves up to appear to be.

I have always worn jeans and trainers, my hair is bobbed and still naturally very dark with some silver streaks which I love. I know I’m 65 but don’t feel it, although I have some serious health issues, Even if I live until 80, I’ll still be wearing jeans, trainers and lip gloss. Ladies over 60 can still have fun and do whatever they wish, health allowing. Aggie should never be used in that manner, elderly, well I never!

What I feel inside doesn't match up with what I see in the mirror. I don't dress or feel old except when everything hurts then I feel 100 so if a doctor saw he then he would say elderly. I don't take offence, I call grandchildren young because they are. Just glad to be here as I am now older than any member of my close family lived to, can manage on my pension and get out and about.

Pix5. Will be eighty next month and I assure you I still wear slimfit classic jeans! My hair is whiteish but So what! I do 30 minutes total body work out first thing, followed by a protein-ri breakfast and thirty minutes on my cyclette in the evenings after a very early and very light evening meal. I only take one multivitamin and feel great - touch wood!

janeainsworth

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

There is a t shirt on the market with the slogan "it's weird being the same age as old people".