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.

"Crickey, a lot of these ages I’d consider to be well into the elderly stage. I’d say 55+“

Im not far off the scrap heap then at 51.. 🤣🙄..

I had better stop working 12 hour shifts 5 days a week, going fishing/cycling/partying at weekends.. (after lock down) and get myself prepared to put one foot in the grave..

I would class elderly as over 75... I dont even class myself as middle aged yet ffs.. Thats 60+ 😂

Pension age and beyond

I was wondering about this earlier. I’m 42 and think probably 85. I think elderly is older than an older person. My parents are older (each side of 70) but they’re definitely not elderly. Elderly to me, is more the way someone is (trouble walking for example) rather than their age.

80+

70ish, I think.

70+

I know someone who's the same age as me (59) who is semi-professionally ill (ie, there is nothing really 'wrong' with her, but she talks up symptoms everyone has, like the odd ache or bad back, into sounding as though she is on her last legs). If you met her you'd probably think she was 'elderly;, she's bought herself a wheelchair as she's decided it's time her kids pushed her about so she didn't have to walk (even though it's being grossly overweight that's restricting her mobility).

My Dad is nearly 81 and did 27 miles on his bike today. He does seem suddenly older when he reached 80 but we lost my mum that year and he's missing her terribly. I remember her being most put out about going to a clinic for geriatrics at the hospital 😂😂😂. She was so funny.

I do think elderly has connotations around frailty though, I might refer to someone as "an older person" without any kind of aspersions, but if I said that so and so is elderly I would definitely be referring to their losing vitality and sharpness in their old age. But I wouldn't refer to them like that to their face naturally. My mum and my MIL are around the same age, but they are very different in their outlook; MIL has been elderly mentally for years and my mum is simply more outward looking, keen to use her brain and keep physically and mentally active. MIL just doesn't.

I don't think you can say "elderly" means middle age OP, otherwise the superlative "eldest" doesn't work.

The word elderly to me implies vulnerability- frailness and declining health, normal things that happen as you get older. i don’t think it’s a polite way of saying older.
Some people get there faster than others, so I would say the word relates to the individuals own physical health and state of mind, more than biological age. Some people are elderly at 60 and some might still be turning somersaults at 90.

70+

Well, all the people who are laughing at those saying 55+ or 60+

The last three adults to die in my family were 43, 55 and 58.

Two of those were my parents.

I’ll stick with my definition of 60+, thank you. I did it mathematically precisely because I wanted to remove the above from the equation. Eighteen years of childhood, average UK age of 81.5, divide the intervening years into young/adulthood, middle age, elderly. It’s not an insult.

Medically speaking elderly is 65+ generally

Sorry chankly , but I’m nearly 54 , if I make it to 55 and someone calls me elderly yes I will find it insulting, even if it’s not intended as an insult .My dad died a month after his 50th birthday , he died young he wasn’t elderly , the age someone dies has little to do with it .

Over 80

" I might refer to someone as "an older person" without any kind of aspersions"

But older isn't the same as old. Older means middle aged, old means, well, old.

"Blimey! I'm 68 and certainly don't think of myself as either old or elderly!"

You don't claim your (old age) pension then? Or your bus pass?

"it really depends on the person. My mum is almost 70, lazy, has poor health and does seem elderly.

My Dad is the same age and still working, always busy and very active, no way would I class him as elderly."

Both are in the vulnerable group now, and statistically your dad could be more at risk than your mum seeing as this disease seems to affect men worse.

80+

Elderly at 55

FFS I'm 57 - ride horses - walk dogs - work a full day running around after small children (pre Covid) and I could drink and dance a lot of younger people under the table all night if I wanted to - keep your ageist comments to yourself 🙄

I would say 80 because that is when a reasonably healthy person without co-morbidities starts to become frail.

Or fall to bits as my 80 mum calls it

You don't claim your (old age) pension then? Or your bus pass?

It's called the State Pension.They are both entitlements at a certain - ever increasing - age. Elderly /old age doesn't get a mention. Why should it?