To ask if you consider 60 elderly

[Sevendaysaweek]

I would say maybe early older adulthood.

It genuinely depends on the person who's 60.

Some are hale and hearty and some are incredibly frail.

Nope. I've got friends and colleagues who are 60+ who are just as energetic as I am in my early 40s.

My parents are in their early 70s and are just beginning to look elderly, but that's as much due to their health issues as it is to their age.

Some people seem impossible to put an age on. Just watching the bbc coverage of the cenotaph and for example John Major and Princess Anne have looked the same for about 30 (or more) years!!

I think middle age goes from 40+ to 79. I think of 80 as elderly. People of any age can seem frail if very sick.

Traditionally the NHS treats patients over 75 in their Geriatric care of the elderly departments hence I have considered this an age which people become elderly.
In my experience, late 70s was an age that a lot of people started to seem frail but as we are living longer this has now moved up to early 80s.

Christ no! I'm 51 with a 9 year old, I'm only 8.5 years from 60 and I am far far from middle aged let alone elderly! My Dad remarried at 60 and while he's now 81 I struggle to see him as elderly as he remains so fit, well dressed and handsome! I really think it depends on the individual.

No, it's well past middle age and I'd think of someone who was 60 as "older" but elderly I think is 75+.

No. Elderly is probably mid 70s in my mind. 60 is just adulthood.

Not really I'm mid 50s

But if you'd asked me in my 20s I'd have said yes

I think that very often , the idea of 'elderly' or 'old' depends on our own age.

Someone in their 30's might struggle to see 60 as anything but elderly because it seems such a long way from where they are age wise

Tbh who cares what other people think?

I’m 60 next week and I certainly don’t think of myself as elderly! Still work full time (and will have to work till state pension age) and have as much energy as I ever did. Eyesight’s going a bit though . . .

I’m 60 next week and I certainly don’t think of myself as elderly!

Would the people who seem to think elderly means frail be happy being referred to as old?

I think middle age goes from 40+ to 79.

In humans or giant tortoises?

no, I don't think 60's is elderly.

I wouldn't really consider somebody elderly until 80's.

I agree with pp that some people embrace old age. I remember when fil retired. He was 60, and immediately referred to himself as a pensioner - not jokingly. He and mil pursued every discount and special pensioner offer, eg Pensioners pub lunches. The pair of them were very comfortably off, so it wasn’t out of necessity. They also liked garden centres, listening to Classic FM in their conservatory, Saga holidays and every cliche you can think of.

But, will we be cliched too? Ds says only old people look in advance at what to watch on the tv , only old people listen to the radio , and certainly only old people use FB [not blush!] .

Elderly is 80+
Older is 70+
Retired is 60+ (though the government expect us to work to 67)

But some people are unfit/unhealthy/have an “elderly” outlook on life when they are 60+

Good god no. My parents are in their 60s and would hate being referred to as elderly. I class elderly as 80/85+

No! But I probably used to...

Dh is 60 next year and definitely don't think he will be best described as "elderly".

Late middle age. I'd say.

I don't consider it old, but an employer recently asked Dp his age, 57. The reply 'Oh, you're 57, mmm'. It's not old, but if you are looking for a job it seems you are past it, even for a job sitting down all day!

Oh, yes, employers think you’ve one foot in a heated warmer sock if you are over 50.

I guess we need to distinguish elderly from being in poor health

I'd disagree to some extent. The very word 'elderly' , for me, describes someone who has turned into that person who struggles with everything old age.
I'm sure we can all think of some folk in their 90s that I wouldn't consider 'elderly'. If you don't know any personally, you could look at David Attenborough or even the Queen for starters. OTOH, I'm sure we can all think of people barely touching 70 who we would consider 'elderly'. To me, it totally matters what the health of a person is like, but, overwhelmingly, it matters what their state of mind is.

Why do you ask, @Sevendaysaweek ?

I'm mid 50s and although I don't feel anywhere near elderly I am very aware that my stamina, energy and ability to shrug off (for example) a cold is not what it was in my 30s.
Also, peri menopause, I no longer sleep through the night and am a bit tired most of the time.
Thus it seems completely reasonable to me that the COVID cut off us 60 for greater risk.
Is that what this thread is about?

I guess we need to distinguish eldery from being in poor health

I find it bizarre that so many people can't cope with acknowledgement of their age. Rather than keep changing the word, why not fight the stereotype that old = useless?

I agree very much with these two comments. Even if they don't conscientiously realise it, most of the people posting on here are essentially implying that it's somehow laudable to enjoy good health as you grow older and, conversely, shameful to be not so lucky in your health and physical ability. Disability and frailty are nothing whatsoever to be ashamed of, whatever age you happen to have reached.

Going on a lot of these posts, you'd think that 'elderly' was one of the worst insults you could 'accuse' somebody of; not dissimilar to when pathetic misogynists will spit "You're such a WOMAN" (whether at females or males) with bile and disgust in their voices.

But whether you’re frail at 70 or fighting fit you’re still the same age! You’ve still lived the same amount of years, you’re still old.

Care of the elderly in medical terms generally now refers to over 80

Elderly to me is 80+
Older people 70+
Bearing in mind pension/retirement age is heading towards 67/68 fir most of us
I’m 56 abs class myself as Middle aged even if I still feel 21!