To be surprised that 65+ is deemed ‘elderly’

So middle age is one year? Or it only starts exactly in the middle of your life? Are you saying the first 40 years are when you’re young? (genuine questions, not arguing!).

Why is “old” offensive or derogatory?

Come back in a few years time and tell us your own answer.

Is it true that most 65 year olds are working?

I mean, I don’t know, but I would have thought the majority were not working tbh.

You seem really out of touch.

55 is not old! It's still middle aged.
I think you're misunderstanding what middle aged means. It doesn't mean you double the age and can live that long. It's a period of many years before you are as old. Even the Oxford dictionary defines middle age as 45 - 65.
And why are you differentiating between old and elderly? They're the same thing.

But "healthy life expectancy" isn't increasing, hasn't for ages. In some parts of the country it's actually decreasing.

But old is older than elderly.

@PaminaMozart Respectfully, you are old/elderly. Medically speaking, and in terms of state benefits and laws about pension savings. Not to mention just plain factually.

One can be old/elderly and be fit, active, go on adventures, be superior in mental and physical skills compared to some younger people, use technology to its fullest extent, look well and fashionable, etc. etc.

Why is “old” offensive or derogatory?

You could be in your 80s and still really fit and healthy, you’re still elderly.

Even as a medical definition, there is no consensus of when "elderly" begins, and proposed reviews of the terminology are ongoing, given the improvements in lifestyle and changes in health and ability of the traditional 65-75+ year old.

It doesn’t matter if you look or feel old. Humans live to around 80-90 generally

The middle of 90 is 45! and life expectancy is around 80. So middle age is actually around 40.

I thought that, it’s the same with all the funeral plan and mobility scooter ads on daytime tv “If you are aged 50-80 you are entitled to a free pen” they class 50-80 year olds as all the same, it’s utterly ridiculous.

I’m 57 and off to my bed.

But however old you look, or feel, or act for your age is irrelevant- you’re still that age.

55 is definitley not old, my mum is 57 and doesnt feel old to me atall. 40 is definitley not middle aged. One of my best friends is nearly 47 (11 years older than me) I still wouldnt call her even middle aged tbh. I would feel that 50 is middle aged and anyone considered old is 70+ so basically at around retirement age. But even then I cant say that all people in their 70s come across as old my FIL is 70 and hes still really strong and capable of lots of things, goes out running, cycling etc. Tbh age is subjective really because some people in their 20s can look and behave like they could be in their 40s, and some people can look alot younger than their actual age and behave/dress younger (not in a cringe way).

60-90 is the middle section of life

If you're Methuselah maybe.

I’m just dividing a 90 year old lifespan into three, and therefore 60-90 is the middle section of life, so why wouldn’t that be middle age…?? It’s the years when a lot of people get married and have children. It’s only a term. Hitting old age doesn’t mean you’re going to drop down dead immediately.

• sorry I quoted the wrong post!

I've just turned 70 and I'm neither elderly nor old. Okay, I'm in much better shape than most people my age, but still...

Just don't label me in any way that refers to my numerical age. Because it makes no sense. I'm fitter and in better shape than most women in their 40s. Last time I checked my biological age was 53...

Elderly sounds frail, which is why everyone thinks it’s 80 +

middle age is 35-50
50 is older adult
65+ elderly

Exactly.

You are as old as you are. You are also as fit/active as you are. The two things are separate.

"Old" and "elderly" have negative connotations. But the words themselves just refer to a person's age.

I agree with you and many others on this thread… old and elderly don’t mean anything different to me in terms of age. Elderly tends to be used as a polite term for old.

Online dictionaries all seem to agree. I don’t know where this notion comes from that elderly means “very old” and is somewhat older than old?!

I also find this amusing. No one ever thinks they’re middle aged and no one things they’re old! You’ve got to look at the whole population, not the very healthy 10% (or less). I’m in my 30s and I know I’m heading towards middle age!

You do understand that old is a descriptor of age?

Your friends are old. They may be fitter than most forty year olds but that doesn't mean they are anything other than old. It's not a negative term, simply a descriptive one.

People are just terrified of being old aren't they? It's really quite bizarre the lengths we go to in order to kid ourselves.

Defining 22-35 as “adults” implies that people over 36 aren’t adults… That’s ridiculous! And defining 45 as “old” is preposterous… especially as you’re nearly 30s… Normally it’s defining those over 45 as “old” is something teenagers do!

@IloveAslan but you and your friends that you have described are not young or middle aged, so how would you describe yourself? And how do you think you’d be described by all the other age groups? Elderly is not an insult after all.

Well a very fast google said uk life expectancy for men and women was between 78-80 years old.

So around 40 would be middle aged. I certainly don’t think 30 year olds are young people despite being one.

Old once in your 50’s and elderly at 65 plus. Because your retired why would a non elderly person be retired unless very rich. Its because you seen as needing the rest and harshly not much use to the working population rightly or wrongly.