At what age are you considered elderly

[Jenasaurus]

I was watching an advert for a bra. It said it was designed for seniors I am 58. Am I the target market? Just suddenly dawned on me that I'm no longer middle age as online it says 65 is considered elderly. Apparently in the 1950s 55 was thought of as old age. I know everyone I'd different. I have a friend that wanted to move into a retirement village at 47. I guess it doesn't matter as long as I'm healthy. what age do you think as elderly

I am almost 65 and don't feel elderly at all. I still work full time too. My parents are mid 80's and they are elderly.

To me, elderly is not about physical age but about frailty.

Old and elderly are imo different things.

My aunt is 94. She's completely independent, goes walking every day, nips up the high street, does her garden. She's old/a senior.

My neighbour is 70. She walks hunched over, needs a cane, has carers coming daily. She's elderly.

Interesting question...

I'd say maybe 80?

By the way, are you in the USA? Only asking as you mentioned "seniors" and I thought that to be quite an American term?

Having said that, a year is a year wherever you are!

Fall over in front of people. If people around you laugh you are young. If people around you are concerned then you are old.

Currently visiting my 81-year-old cousin; I keep interrupting her watching how-to videos on YouTube to improve her drawing skills and rearranged an outing yesterday to accommodate one of her several weekly gym visits. Way more active, fit and involved than many people thirty years younger. Not to mention my 70+ husband working full time and running every morning. It’s not all in the mind, but a lot of it is.

I don’t know why people get so het up about being called old or elderly. It’s just a term for a stage of life/age. It’s not particularly a comment on how youthful you are, or whether you’re going to live long! Teenage is a stage too. Some teens are mature, others are still like children, but they’re all still teenagers.

I personally think 70 is “old” and probably the age we need to retire/have a state pension. I’m in my 50s and fully expect that the age level will rise before I retire. I think of 80 as elderly, as both of my previously fit and active parents slowed down enormously (because they had to due to health issues).

I do believe the age grouping of being considered geriatric or elderly at 65 should be reassessed though. It's remained static for years despite life expectancy increasing, and the population is so much fitter and able bodied for longer now.

I like this I found one US site ....

The United States' older adult population can thus, be divided into three life-stage subgroups: the young-old (approximately 65 to 74 years old), the middle-old (ages 75 to 84 years old), and the old-old (over age 85).

I'd say once you get to 80 you are getting on a bit, but as others have said it's very individual. I certainly wouldn't consider 65 elderly!!!

It's all relative as well. My children refer to me as an old timer because I like an early night and I'm only in my 50's 😂

As regards when a bra will be suitable for the elderly though, as in the OP, surely that is to do with some sort of natural aging process which, depending on genes (or cosmetic surgery) may be roughly in the same age bracket for a woman, and a separate issue from e.g. how active someone is. Is a bra for seniors more supportive for better shape when skin/muscle/tissue tone decreases? More comfortable after years of wrecking ribs with underwires? I think bodily tone noticeably decreases in 60s so in this instance I would go for 60s and above.

65?! Hardly. Madonna is 65, have you seen any footage from her current tour?

I reckon over 75 AND physically frail = elderly.

I’m 68 and not elderly in the slightest.

A friend of mine is in her 90’s and is very active, drives, uses the internet, is active in clubs, etc, etc.

In my view it’s all down to good genes and a young mental attitude.

It’s down to genes and luck. I’ve known some people live really unhealthy lives and live to a great age, and other very healthy active people die young. My mother was the fittest, most active and busy of all her peers in her 70s, but her early 80s have been horrid. My father was the most independent and fit of all his friends, yet the first to die. Both had great mental attitudes, just bad luck.

I tend to think broadly it's
Under 25 - young
25-45 prime of life
45-60 middle age
60-70 getting on a bit
70-80 getting on a bit more
80+ elderly

But for an individual, I think it's about when the natural ageing processes start catching up with you in a very obvious sort of way - body doesn't move easily any more, brain isn't so quick, new things are more worrying, likely to be overwhelmed by lots going on, get tired easily, etc. Very variable.

I think it depends completely on the person and the circumstances. My MIL is much more frail, in need of day to day help and 'elderly' at 70 than my great-aunt is at 80, but MIL has had some medical episodes that have contributed to her faster decline.

I think people seem more sprightly and fit for a lot longer these days. Fashion often means they look younger too. However, wha I've noticed is that the decline to being elderly and frail is very swift. A lot of people who seem really quite active and youthful in their seventies, can decline incredibly quickly, almost overnight. Not sure if this is a new phenomenon.

I know people in there 60/70's with more get up and go than people in their 40's!
I do think age is a state of mind though and like other posters have already said it also depends if there are health issues involved.

I suppose its when you read that someone of a certain age has died and think they died before their time.

Elderly would be 80+ for me, although there are people younger than that who would certainly qualify due to ill health.

I'm shocked that 55+ used to be considered old. I'm nearly 50 and still very much feel middle aged and unless my health collapses in the next five years I can't imagine feeling much different.

140 this made me laugh 🤣. I'm 45 and totally in denial about the fact I'm getting older the realisation that I'm actually middle aged now Is bloody shocking for me. I'm still 21 in my head. get a bloody shock every time I look in the mirror. I'd also say 80 is the start of elderly but like you i won't think it is when I'm 80 and still 21 in my head lol.

So many things aimed at the older generation are described as being for 50+. I was saying to dh today that it is a really outdated concept. 50 isn't old anymore.

I'd have said 80+ was elderly, but my not yet 40 knees would suggest otherwise. 🙄

My local council does what it rather patronisingly calls a 'Full of Life Fair' for the over 50s. Some of it looks pretty useful but it's held on a weekday when a lot of 50s and 60s are going to be at work.

I'm curious what kind of a bra would be designed for seniors and why you'd need a different design bra as you age - I'm almost 60 if that's any relevance. My mum couldn't work it out either - she's 89 🤷

I dont think of the word elderly as only an age thing.

I noticed my parents health deterioting rapidly and they began to look frail, "elderly", in their mid 70s and died at 78/82.

For others it might be younger or older. There are some very fit 70+ age old around.

Can’t pinpoint it to an exact age - think it is very dependent on health and mindset.

If I had to put a number on it I think the average age that elderly starts is around 80.