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To ask what age you would say is no longer dying young

383 replies

Whyohwhy88 · 01/01/2026 19:35

Although hard still I feel from 80 onwards it’s expected

OP posts:
wanttokickoffbutcant · 01/01/2026 20:39

I lost my mum at 60 and my dad is now 79. She was ill and seemed quite old whereas my dad is healthy and well. I am now 53 and have 16 y/o and worry about dying at 60......

Saz12 · 01/01/2026 20:39

My DM died in her mid-50's. She was "young to die" but I'd not say she died young as such. DF was 79. My grandparents - one died in early 60's, the other three in their late 90's

I reckon you're too young to die if you are less than 10 years older than me.

Blasterplaster · 01/01/2026 20:38

It would be interesting to collect this data at the same time as the socioeconomic background of the poster. In parts of Glasgow just reaching retirement age means you’re winning.

Toastythesnowman · 01/01/2026 20:37

Retirement age plus a few years so 70+. We've had a couple of family members die six months after retiring or less and it feels like a real shame they didn't get to enjoy their later years.

Any deaths 85+ must be referred to as "a good innings"

FrenchBunionSoup · 01/01/2026 20:35

60

I definitely wouldn't describe someone who dies at 70 as having "died young" and find it quite bizarre that so many people on this thread would

joeninetey · 01/01/2026 20:34

Depends if male or female. Many men are still all there and active into their 90's, whilst women tend to dry up much past 55-60 ?

Mamamia2019 · 01/01/2026 20:34

I work in A&E and I feel the consensus amongst doctors/ nurses based on when we get a cardiac arrest pre-alert is anything under 70 where we all visibly cringe and someone will comment how young they are. Obviously all cardiac arrests/ deaths are awful but not as unexpected.

Dappy777 · 01/01/2026 20:33

I’d say that, thanks to medical advances, anyone who dies before 85 has died “too young”. It will be interesting to see what happens if/when the first generation of anti-ageing drugs arrive. Maybe reaching 100 will soon be considered a right.

Cat1504 · 01/01/2026 20:31

Chasingsquirrels · 01/01/2026 19:44

But it still isn't "young".

My late-DH was 58 when he died, that felt like dying younger than expected. But not dying young, which would be 40's and earlier to me.

I’m 61….I still feel young….my own mum is 89 and full of life….still driving….dog walking…living independently …..socialising…..i don’t feel ‘old’ enough to die with my Mum still fit and well

ZenNudist · 01/01/2026 20:31

Over 75 is not dying young.

SardinesOnButteredToast · 01/01/2026 20:30

70

Hedgehogtimeagain · 01/01/2026 20:29

Until you are 80. Then it’s too young.
My dad is 85 and fitter than most 60 year olds. He still cuts the hedges, digs the garden and drives. He painted the entire house recently and still builds things. He has full capacity and is sharper than most people I know.

Any age is too soon for someone you love

Zov · 01/01/2026 20:22

When people die at say, 68, I agree it seems to young to die, but it's not 'young.' Any age after 60, is not 'young.' Even in your 50s you're not young. Too young to die, but not young.

Alittlefrustrated · 01/01/2026 20:20

I feel people have been cheated if they die before 80. When I was younger 70's seemed normal.
Not many have made it to 80 in my immediate/wider family.

Hallpast · 01/01/2026 20:20

every Decade older is a shock for me. Now I’m in my sixties and my friends are in their seventies. Still living life to the full, every day. So whereas I used to think 80 would be old, I see it as still young as my friends will be that age in a couple of years. Anything under 85 is too soon to me now

Zov · 01/01/2026 20:20

Anything past 75.

ByPoisedRaven · 01/01/2026 20:18

OneLoyalGreyFish · 01/01/2026 20:12

My husband passed away in August, he was 69 - unexpected and definitely too young 😢

I'm sorry for your loss. That is definitely too young.

Tammygirl12 · 01/01/2026 20:16

65

Ilovechocolatelimesandsherbertlemons · 01/01/2026 20:16

My parents and in-laws were all 90+ when they died. So anything under 86 seems too early to me. I was shocked this year when friends died at 74 and 76. And the older I get the more it seems too early!

MolkosTeenageAngst · 01/01/2026 20:15

My Dad died in his 60s. I feel like he died before his time but I don’t think he was ‘young.’ I’d say under 50 or so is dying young, dying aged 50-75ish is dying before your time but not young. Dying 75+ is dying at a normal time, although can still be sad and unexpected within individual circumstances.

5128gap · 01/01/2026 20:14

Chasingsquirrels · 01/01/2026 19:46

Actually, "dying young" and "dying earlier than you'd expect" are really 2 different questions.

The OP was "dying young", but most people (and I) are probably answering "dying earlier than you'd expect".

Agree. Dying young to me means dying whilst still young, so under 40 probably. Dying too young means dying before your life expectancy.

RisingSunn · 01/01/2026 20:13

80

OneLoyalGreyFish · 01/01/2026 20:12

My husband passed away in August, he was 69 - unexpected and definitely too young 😢

Glowingup · 01/01/2026 20:10

Chasingsquirrels · 01/01/2026 20:09

Nobody?
But I have just said that I would class a 40 year old as at the end of the young scale (not a "young person" as I clarrified). So clearly I do think that.

Edited

You’re likely in a minority.

Chasingsquirrels · 01/01/2026 20:09

Glowingup · 01/01/2026 20:07

Nobody classes a 40 year old as a young person. Or a 45 year old. It’s middle aged. But dying at that age is very young to die. So is 50 and 60.

Nobody?
But I have just said that I would class a 40 year old as at the end of the young scale (not a "young person" as I clarrified). So clearly I do think that.

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