In your opinion, how old is 'elderly'?

[CustardySergeant]

I'm watching BBC news and their report from an ICU in which "most patients are elderly". I think there is quite a difference of opinion on this on MN no doubt related to the age of the poster. I'm just curious and also wonder whether calling someone elderly necessarily has other connotations than simple age.

80 +

Well. The elderly care ward I work on accepts patients over the age of 65. So medically, they will be speaking of patients aged 65+.

On a personal level though, I don’t know. I’ve met “elderly” looking/acting/feeling people of 65 & “young” looking/acting/feeling people of 80+.

Age can be an imperfect way of defining people.

60+

For health reasons, I think it is fair. It’s not an insult, but if you take the average age that adults live to in the uk (81.4) and then subtract childhood, so 18 years, and divide the adult years into three, younger, middle and elder, that’s what you get.

For health reasons, in my family group at least, it makes sense.

I'm very surprised by the number of people saying 80+. To me (aged 66) I would say 80+ is old. Maybe I'm wrong in assuming that elderly is not a synonym for old. I've always regarded elderly as between middle-aged and old and I do think that at 66 I am elderly. How you feel inside and what you see in the mirror become increasingly incongruous as time passes.

I’m 33, elderly to me is 80+

To me, elderly is older than old! 😂

Non-medically speaking I don’t think elderly is an age but a state.

70+

Elderly isn't an age, specifically. It's a way.

I really don't understand this. Young, middle aged, old- these are just descriptors of simple fact. Imagine if you could just self identify about other material facts, like being a member of the opposite sex for example- how silly would that be?

I don't get why people are bothered to be described as old/elderly if they are.

You qualify for Saga at 55+. That seems as good an age as any to be old, certainly north of that is hardly middle-aged anymore.

Over 70

70s upwards

Agree with pp that elderly is older than old. I'd say elderly is 80+

Probably anything after state retirement age, I’m 62 so not quite there yet. You know when you are nearing it by the way people talk to you, I’ve noticed it recently.

Yes as PPs, I think the opposite to you, I think there’s old and then comes elderly, because elderly implies frailty. So 65 is old and 80+ is elderly to me.

I agree with @FudgeBrownie2019

It’s a ‘way’ but mostly a mental way.

80+

It's when people start to say 'She had a fall' instead of 'she fell over'. I'm 65 and not there yet.

70 plus, When I was younger I would have said 60-65, but when I was a nipper people could retire then!

Old is from 60 so elderly can potentially mean that as well, though I'd imagine someone 70+. I'm quite surprised by all the people saying 80+.

Elderly comes after old, op, it's definitely not a stage along the way.

It depends on the person.

My mum is very elderly.

My MIL is just on the verge of being elderly.

They're both the same age (75).

But I know two other 75-year-olds who aren't remotely elderly.

@CaptainMyCaptain yes . And when having “a fall” becomes reason enough for a stay in hospital.

I think elderly is just a polite way of saying old.

70 plus

But general health and state of mind/ attitude can also have a bearing.