How Old Would You Say Someone “ Elderly “ Is?

[RabbitsRock]

I was shocked to read a review online that described ladies in their 50s or 60s as elderly! It wasn’t possible to comment otherwise I would have posted a stiff objection! I would say late 70s or into the 80s is more like it! I’m 58 & definitely wouldn’t describe myself as elderly!

Age of majority is 18. I'd say adult life breaks down as: 18-25 - young, 25-45 - in their prime, 45-60 early middle age, 60-70 later middle age, 70 getting on a bit, 80+ elderly.

Fairly arbitrary, but works for me!

Yes! still in my prime 💪🏻

I assume the writer was under 30! 😂I'm 55+ with two teens -- I might occasionally FEEL elderly but definitely am NOT !!

When I was 20 it was over 30!
But as I have got older the 'elderly age' moves away at the same rate. I suspect that the elderly man, Einstein, had a theory about it.

I'm think it is similar to driving towards the horizon. In a flat desert.

I agree, my parents are late 60s and fit & well so I really wouldn't describe them as elderly. To me "the elderly" means someone old and frail 75+

My mum (89) refuses to sit in the front seats on a bus because they’re reserved for old people.

👏😂

75+

My parents (78 and 82) often refer to other people as 'elderly', in a way that very much suggests they see that as a different bracket to themselves.

It's definitely not an age thing, but a 'state of life' thing. I'd say it's where you need assistance with otherwise everyday things (doing shopping, keeping on top of housework, going to appointments etc)

Though geriatric/elderly age is 65. As someone has said already I think

I also think the fact people are having children later in life skews opinions on this.
As said above plenty of 50 year olds have children in primary school whereas 50 was firmly grandparent age when I was younger.
I’m mid forties with adult children, my mum was only a year older than I am now when she became a grandparent and I wasn’t a particularly young mum it’s reasonable that if my DC have children at a similar age to me my mum could be a great gran in her mid sixties - I’m sure we all associate being a great gran with being elderly.

My mum and my MIL are late 70s, but one has been ‘elderly’ for a good 5-10 years and the other has the energy and mind of someone half her age. I don’t think you can put a number on it.

Oh dear I like a snooze in the afternoon if I can get away with it my sister calls them nanna naps we 50 and 52 and neither of us are nanna,s ,I blame the menopause!

I hit 2 of those targets.

According to the medical profession, 65 is classed as elderly.

I'm 58 like the OP and elderly seems a looooong way away, I think at least 80. I noticed a change in both parents when they hit 80 and they both, especially mum, started to need more support. My mum became frail and died this year at 85. But so many people are fit and active well into their 70s and 80s these days so it's tough to put an actual number on it.

this definitely. I am 71. Today I have relaid a shed floor and used branch loppers to cut down large shrubs in my garden among other things. Call me "elderly" at your peril

I totally get people don’t feel ‘elderly’ but the facts are at 46 I’m middle aged and am more than likely halfway through my life.
If you are 70 plus you are much nearer to the end of your life that the middle.
That doesn’t mean any of us have to sit in the corner knitting, but facts are facts.

You are elderly.
It is a fact you don’t like it, you don’t accept it and you don’t act like it and you don’t have to, but you are elderly.

I’m 64, still working full time and don’t yet feel old enough to shop in Jaeger or wear Chanel 5, I only mention those because I’ve been looking forward to both since I was about 30 and nope, still not ready!
I’d be horrified to be described as elderly, though iirc I was described as a geriatric mother at 38!
I don’t sleep more than 5 hours now, is that a sign?
I’ve sensed my mum is elderly since perhaps 80, now 83 because her mobility is decreasing though she is still driving.

Indeed. I’m 52, my son has just started secondary school, I’m currently Head of School in a humanities subject at a big university, I walk and cycle everywhere, and while I do like scarves, I’m extremely fussy and the last one I bought cost about €250, which is probably not what that type of poster means…

no I am OLD.

I'd say 75+. One of the children at work described my TA as an elderly lady, shes 61!

I am OLD and accept that but elderly is a mealy mouthed word and I refuse the description

Yeah I agree, tbh it goes on someone’s frailty score.

if you’re in your 60s and have had falls and broken your hip, you’re likely to meet the threshold for elderly medicine, or if you’ve had strokes or early onset dementia/Parkinson’s in that age range. We do see some mid 60s that are in a worse way with health than active 80 year olds but if you’re still relatively healthy and able, you meet admission to a general medicine ward or acute medical unit but we do get it as adults do start declining health wise from 65