WHO defines elderly as anyone over 60

[Snog]

There we have it. From the World Health organisation. Elderly means over 60.

Those of you who are wondering when middle age ends the answer is 60.
Unless there is another category between middle aged and elderly in which case middle age ends younger than 60.

The WHO has to make decisions and guidelines based on worldwide demographics: whilst in the developed world there may be many sprightly, healthy people well into their sixties and beyond, in much of the world, above 60 is elderly from a health perspective. They aren’t making value judgements.

I’d also imagine there’s a wealth of clinical evidence and immunology research which proves that the immune system weakens in all of us after around that age.

Seems reasonable in some ways. The World average life expectancy is only 72+. The longest lived is under 82.

Some people are old way before 60 others stay 'young' for much longer.

I'm 65; sometimes I feel elderly, sometimes I don't. I do think, on average, in the UK, 60 isn't that old any more.

I'm not disagreeing that it 'sounds' horrible. But

WHO are looking at the whole world and maybe 60 is the average age at which people are expecting to be frail, less mobile and needing more help. In much of Africa, 50 is considered elderly because the life expectancy is so low. I work in health care and we tend to refer to elderly as the over-70s. But life expectancy here is 80+
It really is only a word, and is based on a huge number of people so maybe we just have to think of ourselves as "not average"

I don’t think it’s something to take offence over.

I’ve known 50 year olds that I thought of as “old people” (heavy smokers, didn’t take care of themselves at all, myriad of health problems) and likewise 70 year olds who don’t seem remotely old. But the WHO needs broad guidelines.

I'm quite delighted to be 'elderly' (am 60) - it feels like an achievement :) Go me!

My dad turned 60 on Saturday. He is offended enough about getting his bus pass, I think this might tip him over the edge

Do they actually use the term 'elderly'? The sort of language I've seen is simply factual statements based on statistics so far eg
Early reports suggest that illness severity is associated with age (>60 years old) and co-morbid disease.

I did until I hit my 50's and now I see it as no age.
I know loads of people in their 60's that are super fit.

I get that it’s a global number etc, and to be honest in some parts of Scotland, 60 is quite the achievement; but I prefer to think that the persons who decided this are mere children in their 30s & 40s.
From where I am (50s), 60 looks middle aged, and I am amazed that I will qualify for a bus pass 😃

It’s an inescapable fact that we get more susceptible to disease as we get older.
With Covid 19, the crude death rates are
3.5% for over 60’s,
8% for over 70’s and
15% for over 80’s. Obviously you can tweak those up or down for an individual patient who is in much better or worse general health than the average.
I’m in my 60’s, and don’t feel “elderly” yet.
DH’s dear old great aunt was still climbing the Matterhorn at 85, and only stopped when the mountain guides finally refused to go up with her in case she broke a hip!

Yes, and? It's like all those people who try to conceive for the first time in their 40s and think because they are 'fit, healthy, don't drink or smoke' they should just catch right away. The eggs are the same age you are. The body ages. It's not all in the mind, which is also your biological age.