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Original poster

To be surprised that 65+ is deemed ‘elderly’

339 replies

Helfs · 09/03/2024 20:03

Off the back of another thread I wanted to see what the actual definition or classification of ‘elderly’ was and I was very surprised to see it defined as 65+

I always thought 80+ as being elderly so this has really surprised me. Especially looking at those I know around the 65-70 mark, they’re fit, healthy, living their best life and do not scream ‘elderly’ if you looked at them.

Personally I’ve always seen it as;
0-1 baby
1-3 toddler
3-13 child
13-19 - teenager
19-25 young adult
25-40 - adult
40-55 - Middle Aged

55-80 - old
80+ - elderly

So do you think this definition is fair on those who are 65, should the definition not evolve as life expectancies rise?

OP posts:
Yawnnn · 09/03/2024 20:33

I wouldnt class a 13 month old as a toddler

I wouldn't say 40 is middle aged

I wouldnt say 55 is old

Pineapplewaves · 09/03/2024 20:30

21-66 is adult (retirement age being 66)
66+ is a pensioner
80+ is old

I'm 48 and don't class myself as middle aged! My DC are only 4 and 8.

PumpkinPie2016 · 09/03/2024 20:30

I agree with you @Helfs my dad is 69 and I wouldn't say he is elderly!!

He is quite a 'young' 69 really - still in fairly good health (thankfully), quite active - he and mum have a caravan and they go all over in it - including abroad. Its a big van and he still tows (he has a HGV licence though!).

I would usually think of 80+ as being elderly.

Although one of my Y7s made me laugh the other week! We were walking to class and they were going very fast, so I jokingly said "I'm getting old, we need to walk slowly" to which he replied "really, how old are you?" So I just said "oh very old" - his reply? " wow, you must be about 26 then" 😂😂😂 (I'm 37 so I let him carry on thinking I'm 26 😂)

YireosDodeAver · 09/03/2024 20:29

In maternity/obstetrics you are referred to as "elderly" if you are having a baby over the age of 35!

LindorDoubleChoc · 09/03/2024 20:29

So this is a TAAT? Surprised HQ have let it run so long.

Isthisreasonable · 09/03/2024 20:28

MN seems to think 50 is elderly but I'm with you 80+ is elderly. The end of middle age should tie in with state pension age

TeaPleaseX · 09/03/2024 20:28

This thread just reminded menAs a kid I remember thinking my nan would drop dead any second after her 60th birthday because she "was old" she's 82 now and I still don't see her as elderly. To me elderly is like bent over, struggling to walk maybe 90? I have no idea.

ditalini · 09/03/2024 20:27

Helfs · 09/03/2024 20:26

Yep

so as I said

the oldest person in the world wouldn’t have been middle aged at 65.

Goodness me

Show quote history

No, they'd be 4 years past their "middle" age! Am I missing something???

Saschka · 09/03/2024 20:27

I know 65 year olds who are frail and definitely “elderly” - walk with a zimmer frame, multiple falls, early dementia. They are all badly controlled hypertensive diabetics - having underlying medical problems really accelerates ageing.

I know others who are 70 and still swimming, cycling etc.

Original poster
Helfs · 09/03/2024 20:26

ditalini · 09/03/2024 20:24

No - half of that is 61...

Show quote history

Yep

so as I said

the oldest person in the world wouldn’t have been middle aged at 65.

Goodness me

OP posts:
VanillaFrosted · 09/03/2024 20:26

Hmm, in the medical world frailty is a thing. See this:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/rockwood-frailty-scale_.pdf

Of course, age does not allow someone to predict what an individual person will score on this system, but there is an undeniable correlation between advancing age and higher frailty score on a population level.

Being old is just a fact like “brown hair” or “missing tooth”. It’s not an insult and doesn’t tell you much about a person really.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/rockwood-frailty-scale_.pdf

OddBoots · 09/03/2024 20:26

Is some of this in relation to medications? I know some are contraindicated above a certain age so I imagine that is related to biological changes rather than social expectations.

ditalini · 09/03/2024 20:24

Helfs · 09/03/2024 20:19

122

so half of that still isn’t 65 😅

Show quote history

No - half of that is 61...

Original poster
Helfs · 09/03/2024 20:23

BobbyBiscuits · 09/03/2024 20:20

I would start calling someone elderly when they are retired and seem like their health might be somewhat failing. Like they need support for certain things. If someone is leaping about, doing Kung Fu, running marathons and going clubbing every night then I'd struggle to call them elderly even if they were 80! Some people seem elderly in their 50s if they are ill and not so good at walking etc. I kind of associate it with deteriorating quality of life rather than just actual age.

Yes me too, although I usually find most people hit that stage around 80, which is why I probably associate the term with that age range.

My gran is 72 and spends her days at theme parks, having weirdly wild sex with her 3rd husband and I think will live longer than most of us since she has been vegan for god knows how long (and looks younger than my mum - although I’ll never tell her that)

OP posts:
DinnaeFashYersel · 09/03/2024 20:23

You reckon 55 is old 🤣

Age is just a number.

Original poster
Helfs · 09/03/2024 20:22

VanillaFrosted · 09/03/2024 20:20

Old and elderly are the same thing @Helfs . I wonder if you gave “elderly” a different meaning due to when you have seen it applied.

I would agree with other posters about going by life expectancy. 65 is entering the last 15 years of your (expected) life. Sounds about right to me.

Some sources conflate the two others differentiate

For example the UN considers someone old at 60 but elderly from 65. So not much of a gap!

OP posts:
BobbyBiscuits · 09/03/2024 20:20

I would start calling someone elderly when they are retired and seem like their health might be somewhat failing. Like they need support for certain things. If someone is leaping about, doing Kung Fu, running marathons and going clubbing every night then I'd struggle to call them elderly even if they were 80! Some people seem elderly in their 50s if they are ill and not so good at walking etc. I kind of associate it with deteriorating quality of life rather than just actual age.

VanillaFrosted · 09/03/2024 20:20

Old and elderly are the same thing @Helfs . I wonder if you gave “elderly” a different meaning due to when you have seen it applied.

I would agree with other posters about going by life expectancy. 65 is entering the last 15 years of your (expected) life. Sounds about right to me.

Original poster
Helfs · 09/03/2024 20:19

ditalini · 09/03/2024 20:14

How old do you think Jeanne Calment was???

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122

so half of that still isn’t 65 😅

OP posts:
Sirzy · 09/03/2024 20:18

I think it depends on the person and their overall health.

my parents are both late 60s, only 18 months between them. Sadly my Dads health isn’t great while (fortunately) my Mums is so she seems a lot younger than him now. If that makes sense!

Ratfinkstinkypink · 09/03/2024 20:15

I'm a 60 year old who fosters a preschooler with complex needs, I am not old. Yet.

Zanatdy · 09/03/2024 20:15

55 isn’t old

ditalini · 09/03/2024 20:14

Helfs · 09/03/2024 20:11

Late middle aged? The oldest person in the world wouldn’t have even been middle aged at 65!

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How old do you think Jeanne Calment was???

Deadringer · 09/03/2024 20:14

55 is old?😱 Surely elderly and old have the same meaning?

NotCute · 09/03/2024 20:14

Helfs · 09/03/2024 20:11

Late middle aged? The oldest person in the world wouldn’t have even been middle aged at 65!

Show quote history

It's the medical definition.

Middle age is 45-65 in medical terms.
I don't think its literally a median measurement but corresponds with physical condition and likelihood of morbidity.