How old is elderly?

Marydoll I thought the term geriatric had been discontinued now. When my dear dad was ill he was on a normal ward, but as he neared death he was moved to a ward designated Care of the Elderly. My daughter, a doctor, told me it’s not considered polite to term people geriatric now. Anyway you’re younger than me (I’m now 70 since last month) so you’re definitely neither geriatric nor elderly.

Callistemon21

Well, we're all 15 months older than when this thread first started, if that makes you feel better or worse.
My knees are definitely 10 years older than they were then.
☹

In hospital in my early sixties, a nurse classed me as a geriatric patient. When I objected, he changed it to elderly patient.
I was not pleased at all!

PinkCosmos

Here is the sign. I heard a few years ago that it was no longer used. There is still one near us.

There’s one outside our house 😂. Further along the road is a complex for retired clergy. I’m tempted to draw halos above the heads.

I’m 83, and that’s elderly, or old, or whatever you like to call it. I freely admit to it and I don’t need euphemisms. Being old is nothing to be ashamed of.

I'm 75 this year and frankly feel very pleased to be able to become elderly, so many of my friends haven't had that opportunity. I'm still able to do pretty much what I want to do, still look OK (just older) and am a lot wiser and kinder than I was when I was young. My main aim is to make the very best of what time I have left.

Luckygirl3

*‘Elderly’ conjures up that road sign with two old people on sticks ......... Hope I never look like that.* - that's very ageist! I have used a stick for years, long before anyone might have thought me elderly. Beware of stereotypes!!

I wrote this originally. I didn’t mean to offend about using a stick, it was more that the elderly people were stooped and just looked ‘elderly’.

I still hope not to look like that, but realise I may one day.

M0nica

*Blondiescot*, It used to be 28, or was it 25?

I thought it was 28 too.

Well, we're all 15 months older than when this thread first started, if that makes you feel better or worse.
My knees are definitely 10 years older than they were then.
☹

Oreo

I think my Mum is elderly (80) but not really anyone under that age, if that’s any comfort?

Sorry, not a comfort. I'm the same age as your mum. I'm definitely not elderly.
But I accept that in medical terms we are classed as elderly from the age of 60.
But my 'young' step daughter is 60!! And she's not remotely old.

According to the World Health Organisation, in broad terms, most developed world countries have accepted the chronological age of 65years as a definition of 'elderly'. It seems to coincide with the average age at which pension benefits are first received. It's a somewhat arbitrary definition, and most certainly doesn't apply worldwide, particularly in those countries where both poverty and poor health care are present. So I guess that by Western standards, I've now been elderly for 11 years, and yes, it sometimes feels to be an accurate description.. but not always. I wonder when I officially become "ancient"?..

I like to think of myself as a wise elder.. then it doesn't really matter what the actual age is. They were always respected with indigenous peoples and ought to play a bigger role in our society IMO

‘Elderly’ conjures up that road sign with two old people on sticks ......... Hope I never look like that. - that's very ageist! I have used a stick for years, long before anyone might have thought me elderly. Beware of stereotypes!!

For me elderly could be replaced with the word 'frail'. We went on a trip a couple of years ago with a very sprightly man of 95 who was using his Smart 'phone better than we were, and I would not have called him elderly. Another lady I know had a bad fall this winter in her early 80s which changed her overnight from being a very active lady to someone who has become very, very frail.

I was an ‘elderly primigravida’ at 28! Down in writing in my notes!
To be entirely fair, the other mothers on the ward were 19 -23, and the 23 year old had just had her 2nd baby.
This was in the late 70s though. Goodness knows what they’d have thought of my dd, who had hers at 38, 39, and nearly 43.

I think my Mum is elderly (80) but not really anyone under that age, if that’s any comfort?

I don't feel elderly, I'm told I don't look elderly, but I am - no disputing that the middle seventies cannot be called middle age. However - who cares?

Kandinsky

I would describe someone of 75+ as ‘elderly’

No way! Over 85 perhaps, I'd say over 90.

Ten years older than whatever age I am at the time of speaking.

This week I’m elderly, last week I wasn’t, next week I hope normal service will be resumed.

70s .Last time I had to go to A and E the nurse got me a chair at the side and told me she liked to keep all her elderly patients comfy in this area.

When I was in my early 60s on retirement I went backpacking round the world for 12 months. I never considered I was elder then, I was doing what younger people did.
I didn't learn to sail until I was in my 60s, life is what you make it.
I'm as my son keeps telling me I'm 80 next year and still traveling so no I'm not elderly yet.
Live life it can be short.

About 86 I personally would call elderly, only because at 70 I have been caring for my grandkid. Now aged 13 with autism, he's lived with us for 10 years now, I also work 2 mornings a week in a charity shop, because I'm busy I don't think of aging, I have friends in their 80s who are still very active, one lady learnt to swim at 80, I first met her at the swimming pool I go to 3 time a week, and one good friend leads mountain walks and she now 78, I do have HCM and am careful not to exert myself too much but then that didn't stop me doing all I can, I enjoy going for coffee etc and my friends are positive ladies in their 60s upwards, I don't surround myself with gossips and negative people, I think looking at my friends it's a mind thing, when I lived in the UK I had an acquaintance at church that always needed help sometimes crossing the road just little things that made me think she was a lot older than she was, I found out she was one year older than me, and that was 20 years ago, I get poorly and that leaves me weak but I never think that's because I'm old

I was an "elderly primagravida" at 31 (I refrained from punching the doctor) I see myself as doing everything slightly later than most. So I'm not elderly at 76 and have no intention of being at 86.

Just saw this on Twitter, from the Guardian and by Bernardine Evaristo:

“Just as women are taught to be ashamed of menstruation and the menopause, so we are taught to be ashamed of our maturation. How sad that 30-year-olds worry about being “past it”. We should celebrate every age and stage of our lives.”