How old is elderly?

Kandinsky

I would describe someone of 75+ as ‘elderly’

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

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?

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

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.

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.

‘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 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

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"?..

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.

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.
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M0nica

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

I thought it was 28 too.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.
☹

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.

Maddyone, it was about four years ago and I has suffered a heart attack. I noticed a new drug in my stash, so I questioned it. The nurse responed with: "Oh we give it to all our geriatric patients.".

BTW, I am 68 😱 in a few weeks, so not far behind you, Maddy.

I am 78 but not elderly

It’s an interesting thread. My grandparents were born between 1905 and 1916. They were elderly by fifty and old by sixty. This was a mindset shared by most people of their generation. They always dressed very smartly but in an old people’s style. They had false teeth from an early age, my grandmothers had a curly perm and weekly shampoo and set. They behaved very differently from my generation and were very staid. They were picture book grandparents and I loved them dearly. There was a seismic shift with the next generation and people are much younger in attitude well into their sixties and even seventies. My mother is 81 and I would definitely class her as elderly as l would many people over seventy. I am 58 and middle aged.

My mind's still about 21 when I wake up, full of plans for what I'm going to do today.

My knees are about 103 and shout "Whoa" when I get out of bed.

As DGD told me a few years ago "perhaps you'll be able to skip like me when you're a bit older" 😁

We are the same age regardless of whether we dress in a modern style or not, have grey hair or colour it, have our own teeth or not. Surely "elderly" is a description of our "age" not how we look or feel. We don't use this way of describing people who are young, children or babies, we only seem to want to hide the fact that we are in the later stage of our life and it's a charade. If you are in your 70's like it or not you are elderly, if you look and feel younger than your years, that's great but you are still in your 70's.

Marydoll

BTW, I am 68 😱 in a few weeks, so not far behind you, Maddy.

But at least you’re still in your sixties Marydoll. Turning seventy last month was the worst birthday I’ve ever had in terms of age. Being seventy makes me feel old. It’s the number, I just don’t like it, but it’s better than the alternative at least.
I had some lovely celebrations. We all went out for afternoon tea in New Zealand, my husband and daughter and the grandchildren, and I had a gorgeous cake made. I was going to be seventy in March, and my daughter was forty in March, so we celebrated early, in January, and we celebrated 110 together. We took pictures and a lady I used to work with said I looked fifty, not seventy. That was very kind of her, but as foxie says, we are whatever age we are, however we look. Then we did it all again on the actual date of my birthday. Out again to a nice hotel for afternoon tea and this time with my husband and sons and families. It’s all been lovely, but I’m still seventy!