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Original poster

At what age are you considered elderly

144 replies

Jenasaurus · 16/10/2023 20:07

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

OP posts:
Irishwitchsocks · 17/10/2023 19:25

I think 80+

I was in fracture clinic today and it was FULL of frail 80+ year olds who had clearly fallen.

Just jiggling all the wheelchairs around in the waiting room to ensure there was enough room for the carers (usually about 60ish - possibly the patients adult children!) wheelchairs and seated patients was a job in itself!

It's a huge hospital and very spacious. I think I'm clearly still in shock! It was very sad and chaotic.

So yes, 80+! 😊

RaininSummer · 17/10/2023 19:25

I can't think of anything younger than late 70s as elderly given that we have to work until we are nearly 70.

Whalewatchers · 17/10/2023 19:27

user1471453601 · 16/10/2023 21:17

@Whalewatchers so true. My body has got me through cancer three times. It's got a fucking right to go to pieces 😁

Glad you got out the other side three times 💐

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ApolloandDaphne · 17/10/2023 19:41

I'm 61 and do not consider myself elderly. My 83yo DM is elderly.

NerdyIsMyMiddleName · 17/10/2023 21:43

My granny used to volunteer to help out the elderly when she was in her 80s (and a lot of the people she was helping were a good bit younger!)

Irishwitchsocks · 17/10/2023 21:57

NerdyIsMyMiddleName · 17/10/2023 21:43

My granny used to volunteer to help out the elderly when she was in her 80s (and a lot of the people she was helping were a good bit younger!)

I love this!

Caswallonthefox · 17/10/2023 22:22

I'm 51 and have an 18 year old sprog, I'm falling apart at the seams but I'm not elderly yet.

nokidshere · 17/10/2023 22:31

My grandmother lived to be over 100 and was pretty active. I remember her, well into her 90’s, talking condescendingly about ‘old dears’ and not meaning herself. So maybe elderly is only other people - depending on your state of mind.

My gran used to say this. She'd say she was helping the old' uns with their shopping etc, they were almost all much younger than her 88 years

sunshineandshowers40 · 17/10/2023 22:33

The older I get the older elderly becomes; I'm mid 40's and would say 75+ is elderly.

Daisybuttercup12345 · 17/10/2023 23:19

Lighttodark · 16/10/2023 20:22

Over 60/65

No way! That's under retirement age.

FunnysInLaJardin · 17/10/2023 23:22

being elderly is your state of mind. My mum died at 94 last year and I dont honestly think I could call her elderly, although of course she was!

Irishwitchsocks · 18/10/2023 07:48

If 60 + is elderly (it isn't, just quoting PP!) then we need another word to describe 85+

You can't have an elderly mother and her own elderly daughter.

And if 70 is elderly then whytf is retirement at 70? We're literally just working our asses off and wasting our lives to pay for everyone who retired at 60 back in the 90s?

Depressing.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 18/10/2023 08:18

*We're literally just working our asses off and wasting our lives to pay for everyone who retired at 60 back in the 90s?

Depressing*

Console yourself with the thought that when they were working all those people who retired in the 90s were probably thinking 'we're just literally working our asses off and wasting our lives to pay for all those kids who are going to grudge paying us our pension? depressing.'

Bookist · 18/10/2023 09:45

It's purely a state of mind. My MIL was already an elderly 48 when I first met her. She'd given up on her appearance and spent far too much time on the sofa.The highlight of her week was the Morrison's grocery shop, where she always bought exactly the same things. But in contrast, my Aunt is 80 next month and is still such a live wire and great company. She's very active in her church and a local choir. Her garden is stunning and she belongs to a very naice health club where she exercises most days. When we go out for the day she can easily walk as far and as fast as me. I honestly don't think she will ever be elderly.

Bunnycat101 · 18/10/2023 11:38

I think that perception will vary dramatically by area. If you’re in a wealthy area with older people still working or living off a good pension, they are likely to be doing well at an older age. life expectancy for men in the richest areas is 83.2 compared to 73.5 in the most deprived areas.

With my own parents, I really started to notice a decline from about 76/77. To me they do now feel elderly- my mum feels like she is entering the ‘frail elderly’ camp.

mydamnfootstuckinthedoor · 14/02/2024 16:55

Definitely noticed that after 80 it was all downhill for my parents! Up till then everything seemed fine, then all of a sudden - not so fine.

CurlewKate · 15/02/2024 07:11

On Mumsnet? 45. 50 if you're lucky.

Augustus40 · 15/02/2024 07:31

I think 65 plus.

Apparently 1 in 5 men dies before the age of 65! Not sure what the statistics for women are.

K0OLA1D · 15/02/2024 07:36

My nan is 86 and she is elderly now, but only just!

My parents are early 60s and I would say they weren't in the elderly bracket at all.

I'd say 80s? I think 'older' comes before 'elderly'

GoodOldEmmaNess · 15/02/2024 07:48

There's a Dostoevsky novel where one of the characters says "I will never do such-and-such, not even if I live to be SIXTY." The bastard made me feel ancient.

I'm 61 now so I should be dead. But I don't feel remotely old. I hate the fact that some younger people assume that there is some huge qualitative difference between, say, a 40 year old and a 60 year old, as if older people were not exactly the same people they were when they were young - which is seemingly just FIVE MINUTES AGO because of how times speeds up as you age. As if they were defined by their age in a way that younger people aren't.

AmusedMaker · 15/02/2024 07:48

75+

pyrocantha · 15/02/2024 08:10

I was looking at some medication for my 78 year old day and it said something in the side effects about "the elderly 60+"
🙈

C1N1C · 15/02/2024 08:12

40

Augustus40 · 15/02/2024 08:15

C1N1C · 15/02/2024 08:12

40

You are being ridiculous!

Avocadosandwic · 15/02/2024 08:16

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