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.

YY elderly to me means frail etc. Proper old.

I'm surprised that there are different meanings, must be regional or something?

So if elderly isn’t an age specifically but a way, how do we define for example, a 4 year old who has a much older way about them? There’s the saying ‘ An old head on young shoulders,’ meaning they are still a young child but have an older outlook. So at 65 I’d describe someone as old even if they looked and did things more like middle aged or young person. At 60 I dress in clothes not too unlike DDs ( she borrows my tops, bags, coats), i have a young outlook on life etc etc but I am eligible for free prescriptions, eye tests and various other concessions which point to the fact I’m considered old.

When he passed, my 92-year old granddad was still "saving for old age"

violet that’s so lovely 😊. You’ve reminded me of my DF who tried out his local U3A meeting and declared it was full of old people. He was 84 at the time and clearly didn’t put himself in the same category as the rest of the group. I can see that now because I go to the WI and don’t consider myself one of the older members, even though at 60, I am. It’s a pretty young group and I absolutely am in the old demographic there.

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

'Old age' pension? Really? I'm assuming you mean State Pension and your use of such ageist language was accidental. @Gwenhwyfar

I'm.nowhere near pension age but hate to hear arachic terms like this.

65 and over

Who else thinks the word just sounds frail and tottery?

The opposite of ‘robust’, which sounds like wot it is. To me, anyway.

Depends on the individual and their attitude/ outlook/demeanour. My mother is 72 and looks amazing. Slim, attractive, fashionably dressed with lovely hair and skin. Yes she's in her 70s but could never be described as elderly.

Oh and she volunteers at a group for elderly people. Many of whom are considerably younger than her!

Bluesheep at the other end of the scale my 4 year old DGD has a wistful, wise quality about her and enjoys things that much older children enjoy but I could describe her as anything other than very young as the fact is that no matter what someone’s outlook, interests, tastes are - they are still either a baby, an infant, a teen, a young adult, adult , middle aged or old.

But I couldn’t describe her as anything but young I mean.

75+. I previously would have said 70+ but having met some 70 year olds, I definitely can’t describe them as elderly!

I’m 55 in January, and will be receiving my private pension, so does this make me old, elderly or a pensioner 😂😂😂

70 plus

I agree that it depends completely on the health, ability and lifestyle of the person.

On average 70+ (with the caveat that I know plenty of people this age are still very healthy and active and of people younger who are very unwell and unable to be active).

I have progressive chronic illnesses and fully expect to have the way of an 'elderly person quite young. In my 20s now, I'd say I've maybe 20 'good' years left at best!

80+

My Mum and Dad are 70 and 71. They’d kick my arse into next week if I described them as elderly

They run their own business and both still work full time.

I checked so many online dictionaries to see where everyone is getting elderly = frail / unhealthy / unable to work.

Couldn't find a single reference.

I don't understand why people are just changing a word to suit their own opinions of what it means

Elderly means old.

65+ is elderly.

It really doesn't matter how fit, healthy, or how much they'd kick your arse if you called them elderly.

Maybe we should all just stop using the word if it's so offensive to people but then again surely we'd need to also stop using child, young adult, middle aged etc too??

Definitely relates to health and a lack of robustness. My FIL at 80 was a fit older man.

Then he had a stroke and a life-saving operation for an acute medical problem. He's fully recovered, physically, but he's now a bit more drawn and gaunt and prone to worrying - he's turned into a sprightly elderly man.

I wonder if there's an assessment of elderly that is made by how long it takes the person to relate a story about having to buy a substitute item in the supermarket? Because that's my mum (now 80).

70+. I don’t think it matters how fit and healthy or full of joie de vivre you are, elderly = old = not young.

Falacy That first picture has a definition that says 'old or ageing'. Ageing is process that we all go through but at varying times and rates. A fit and healthy 75 year old may not be ageing as fast as a 65 year old with age related illness or impairment. That's why I think it's about where a person is at health wise, not just their chronological age.

80+

@Falacy it has to do with ‘relative’ vs. ‘absolute.’ I am talking about relative elderliness.

55+? I just asked my 15 year old child if she thinks I (aged 55) am elderly....she nearly wet herself laughing

Inspired by @MrsMop I just asked dh what he would consider elderly, he said 60+ he has now been dared to tell his parents and my dad this as they are all 60 in the next 4 years 😂 he said that's a hard pass.

I think old is open to interpretation. I’m in my 40s and pretty much ancient to a teenager, but I’m young compared to someone in their 60’s.
Maybe elderly is a factually correct term for an old person, but when does old age start ? My mum was able to collect her old age pension at 60, I’m likely to be waiting in till I’m 70 for mine.
I would say old is when your physical health, or outlook declines to such an extent that you become, or believe yourself to be frail and vulnerable, that’s when you become elderly and why people are making the association.