At what age would you describe someone as ‘elderly’?

[surferjet]

Chatting with a friend yesterday & she described her parents as ‘elderly’, even though they’re only early 70’s.
I know 70 isn’t young, but I’d describe anyone over 80 as elderly.
Maybe it’s anyone over 65?

@Perfectly1mperfect, DH runs everytime she clicks her fingers. It's beginning to be a real issue and has caused quite a few rows between us recently.

To me it is also a fragility thing.

I know some people who are 'elderly' and only 60 and others who are 82 and sharp and in great health.

For me it's physical versus number initially. There are some very 'old' 70 year olds due to comorbitities, and some still working. An actual 'age' mid 80's- although some of the ones I've met are fitter than me at over half their age.

Elderly signifies old age
Now 'Mature' I would say, is a subjective word
I know plenty of immature elderly people but I don't know any mature, elderly, young people

But "elderly" is not being used on here to mean "old age". It is being used as a synonym for "frail", "needs assistance", "needs a hearing aid", "loss of mobility" and even "away with the fairies".

I fail to see any practical benefit for the use of "elderly". If you need a specific age - e.g. after 75 certain state benefits (tv licence) or state limitations (driving licence checks) automatically apply - say so. If someone is "frail" etc say so. What purpose does calling a person "elderly" achieve?

Depends on the person. PIL are mid 70s. Would definitely describe them as elderly. They don't like too much noise or being on the go alot and are very stuck in their ways.. (MIL particularly so.)

Depends on the person. PIL are mid 70s. Would definitely describe them as elderly. They don't like too much noise or being on the go alot and are very stuck in their ways.. (MIL particularly so.)

According to another poster "elderly" is simply an objective word meaning "old age". You are using it, almost certainly subjectively, to describe a mindset.

I can't think of any circumstances where "elderly" is a more meaningful word than actually using an objective descriptor.

MargueritaPink
I agree, some of the interpretations of the word are incorrect on this thread.
It's not a term about frailty, it's a reference to old age.
It doesn't 'serve a purpose' any more than any other descriptive term, it simply narrows down a demographic.
But it obviously doesn't do that in this instance because people don't understand agree with it's meaning, so perhaps you're right, it serves no purpose.

MargueritaPink of course it means age related frailty, age related limitations, age related medical problems - not just frailty or just limitations or general medical problems. Its pretty much the everyday equivalent of geriatric.

elderly I think means old and showing it; not everyone becomes elderly at the same age

my father is 95 and elderly he has slowed down dramatically though still potters in garden and greenhouse; given up driving, needs a stick sometimes gets tired easily can't go out for a whole day, my mother won't leave him alone a home for more than 2-3 hours, he is still up to date with politics reads the Times daily he could not live independently if my mother wasn't around ( she is quite a bit younger)
however when he was in his mid to late eighties he was on no medication, driving, gardening, climbing ladders to paint house, he had knee replacements at 89 and 90 I would say he became elderly at 91/92

It's only the same as if you asked different people what a 'young person' was. Some would think children and teens, others may think under 25 or 30 maybe. Elderly seems to be seen as negative though and people get offended by the term.

TeacupDrama

Your Dad didn't become elderly, he became frail.

But "elderly" is not being used on here to mean "old age". It is being used as a synonym for "frail", "needs assistance", "needs a hearing aid", "loss of mobility" and even "away with the fairies".

I agree. In fact my trust has moved away and we don’t have ‘elderly’ or ‘geriatric’ wards any more - we have ‘complex needs’ - typically someone who has a chest infection only should go to the respiratory ward, regardless of age. However if they have a chest infection plus a social, MH, rehab or palliative care need they would go to complex care where we have specially trained staff to meet their needs. ‘Elderly’ isn’t really a meaningful term.

In my mind its linked to frailty.
My mum and friends mums are same age. I wouldn't describe my mum as elderly but would see my friends mum as elderly.

More down to the assistance required rather than anything else.

‘Elderly’ isn’t really a meaningful term

Exactly.

I'd say over 70 but will probably feel different when I get there

75/80

Above standard retirement age, so 67+. It simply means 'old' as pp have said. Amazed by the ages some people consider to still be 'young' or too early to die. Currently average life expectancy in this country is 79.2 for men and 82.2. So if you're saying elderly is mid 80s up, then only a minority of people will live to become 'elderly'.

It also changes with your own age and the perspective you have. Kids think 40+ is 'old'. My dad still refers to 'the elderly' as if he's not one of them and he's in his late 80s.

Above standard retirement age, so 67+. It simply means 'old' as pp have said

It clearly doesn't "simply mean old" given posts like to me it is also a fragility thing or of course it means age related frailty, age related limitations, age related medical problems.

My nana is 86 (fit and well,lives with my grandad in their house), she sometimes goes on trips with her sister who is in accommodation for old people , where all the residents go out for a carvery together etc, anyway when doing anything like that my nana says she doesn't like hanging around with "all those old people" for too long, like their not like her.
I mean she's almost 87, you can't get much older than that 🤣

I think elderly, for many people, is just a polite word for old.
I know my friends parents aren’t frail or suffer from any major illnesses - but she still described them as elderly/old.
It’s interesting.
I still wouldn’t say anyone was old/elderly until they were 80+, but it’s clearly a very personal thing.

Why do you or your friend have describe someone as old or elderly?

Do you or her often go around referring to or discussing people's ages and assigning meaningless, subjective descriptors to them? I mean assuming you aren't in charge of issuing bus passes or about to organise someone's 90th birthday party when their age is actually relevant.

MN has a real problem with ageism- posters who get their knickers in a twist about sexism or the slightest hint of racism will casually and with no thought display ageist attitudes. And your thread is part of that casual ageism.

MargueritaPink
You’ve gone way over the top.
I’ve lost count of the threads titled
‘am I too old to have a baby? ( when the op is usually about 34 )
Am I too old for this dress?

‘Am I too old for a tattoo?’
Every week they come up.

Do you have a problem with those?

Totally agree MargueritaPink.

I really wish it was picked up more.

I have a few relatives in their 80s and although they live independently, they are becoming less resistant to minor injuries and ailments, taking longer to recover. Age is taking a toll in a way that it didn't when they were in their 60s or 70s.

Elderly suggests an older person being affected by declining health, mental and/or physical as part of the biological processes of aging. That process will occur at different ages and rates for different people.

Death before 75 is considered to be premature.

MargueritaPink what about the endless public transport threads - elderly people not entitled to use priority seating in your opinion?