My doctor called me 'An elderly Lady.'

growstuff

I had my first child when I was 37 and "elderly" in the context of other first time mothers.

I was 30 when I had my first and was "Elderly"

Yes, it is impolite, this is from the Age UK website:

Dan Holden of the International Longevity Centre, summarised:

“Elderly is problematic because of its association with dependency and frailty, which typecasts whole generations. Although it is natural that we refer to people in groups by their age, chronological age is a poor guide to understand any given person; their health, their personality and their experience. It’s not perfect, but a more neutral term like “older people” is more neutral and goes some way to addressing the stereotyping of this age group.”

I'm in my 60's and still working but I don't mind being an "older person" the word "elderly" makes me think of that hunched up old couple on the road signs.

I’m never clear why doctors need to describe someone as ‘young’, ‘middle aged’ or ‘elderly’ at all, or why they can’t just say ‘woman’ or ‘man’. They could just say your age and sex. As in ‘this 68 year old woman attended the clinic today...’.

I'm sure your doctor meant it kindly. My DH didn't like the leaflet that came with his covid appointment letter as it was for 'older adults'. But that's what we are now.

You are definitely elderly.
I consider anything over 70 elderly, but by NHS standards it’s probably anything over 65.

Yes we don’t realise how old we look until people give up their seats for us. My friend travelling with me on a train to London before Covid was annoyed because I got given a seat but she had to stand. I told her that her face lift wasn’t doing her any favours.

During my first pregnancy, aged 25, I was termed a Prim Mid., which gave me a giggle as I have never been described as prim. Just had my 71st birthday, I do feel quite a bit more grown up and I am now in the elderly pigeonhole. Doesn’t bother me, just terms which are necessary to describe certain age groups.

grandmajet

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

Ah, that explains who I keep seeing in the mirror.

Like a PP mentioned, it could be according to medical standards.

Advanced maternal age (ama) is 35 years old, for example

Quite, gs. It's all relative.

I had my first child when I was 37 and "elderly" in the context of other first time mothers.

Also, compared with the rest of the population, mid-seventies IS elderly.

When does someone become elderly?

When the statistics of illnesses and problems most associated with old age begin to show a significant increase.

Doesn't mean you suffer any of these but a GP wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't take said statistical records into consideration.

Why are people so touchy about being regarded as elderly?

It really depends on the context. Age can be a necessary indicator in some treatments. For some drugs for instance, the term 'elderly' may have to be used to indicate a group for whom it may be more or less suitable, or certain side-effects more or less likely.

However, for the individual, I would ask for your age to be given, rather than a group. The other medical professional is then informed.

I was pleased that in all recent news about vaccines, age groups rather than descriptions were used.

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.

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

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

That made me LOL midgey.
Brilliant.

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?

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.

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!

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

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

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

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