Asking what age do you consider to be old?

[Teadrinker11]

I was thinking about this and I don't consider 60s that old at all. Even 70s nowadays aren't that old imo. I think a lot of it is down to lifestyle but in general speaking, what age would you consider to be old?

I think mid-sixties is also the age when you start to realise that all the best life highlights are behind you.

@Thewindwhispers

I think mid-sixties is also the age when you start to realise that all the best life highlights are behind you.

God, I bloody hope they’re not. I have a lot of plans for my 70s.

70+ I suppose. But also depends on the person.

My DS turns fifty this year. It was a bit of a shock to realise he’s now older than I am . In my head I feel stuck at 42.
But no matter how well you look after yourself you do find that you don’t bounce back as quickly as you did from things like minor injuries.
I think attitude has a lot to do with how old you seem to be to people who don’t know your age. Some people act a lot younger than their years in their approach to life.

I’ve just been thrashed at table tennis for two hours this evening by a couple of 87 year old ladies, so I think I have to agree age is just a number!

According to my Granddaughter you're old when you're 88. She told me that I'm not old because I don't have a face full of wrinkles or grey hair and I don't look as old as Boris Johnson, so there!

My grandparents looked on the verge of death at age 65 ish but lived another 10 years or so. That was 40 years ago and they smoked 60 a day each! Now i work with elderly people and I would say post 75 is starting to get old in most cases. Lots of ailments, forgetfulness, not much interest in doing anything.

I feel old at 66, but that's largely due to arthritis.

It's a pisser, especially as I've always looked after my skin, have my hair cut and coloured regularly and am told I look like I'm in my early 50s - until I get up and walk, at least.

@lljkk

I can remember stuff that happened almost 50 yrs ago -- I'm definitely old !!

I don't agree that old = bad, worn out, useless, etc.
Old is fine. Something to be proud of.
Assuming old = bad is a problem.

Depends how you look at it. Old is deterioration and death. Whats positive about that? Lets face it, if you got to be the same age forever, who's gonna choose 91 over 21?

I think 80 is old for everyone, younger than that it sort of depends on the person.

My Parents are 75 and don't seem old. They both work, my mum from home, my Dad still in quite a manual job (up ladders, fitting radiators etc) They go out to the pub/parties. My PIL are a similar age and they seem a lot older. MIL retired at 60 and just potters about really. FIL retired at 70. It's hard to explain, it seems to be a mindset. PIL will always have an excuse not to do things, very set in their ways.
Having said that, my Dad injured himself last summer and took ages to recover, much to his annoyance so that brought it home to me that he needs to slow down (he won't be told that though!).

I'd say 80ish, if you have your health, age is just a number.

I think it depends on you state of mind and your physical health. Also it depends on the context. Old for what?

My parents are in their mid 60s. They have their health issues, but don’t seem in anyway old. Though my young sister who is 23, feels they are old to be her parents. I’m 14 years older so don’t feel the same way.

MIL is late 70s. She’s noticeably forgetful now, but in some ways still seems quite youthful. She doesn’t have any major health issues and apart from her memory is actually very good for her age. FIL seems to have turned into an old man since covid. He’s early 70s, but has an older outlook on life than MIL.

So really it just depends on the person and in what context you are considering them.

45, that's when the aging process kicks in, most people from school look shocking.
The men age worse than the women.

My Mum seemed ancient at 50. My friend aged 68 seems positively spritely...

Old is deterioration and death. Whats positive about that? Lets face it, if you got to be the same age forever, who's gonna choose 91 over 21?

People might, by and large, prefer a younger body but wouldn't necessarily want their 21 year old brain.

Mick Jagger is 78 - I saw the Rolling Stones in 2018 and he didn't stop moving the whole time, running up & down the stage, prancing about. I expect his copious amounts of cash helps though. My Dad is also 78 and minus the copious amounts of cash - he was smashing up a wall with a pick axe last week.

It depends how lucky you are with your health and how much you look after yourself. I don't mind getting old as long as I'm still mobile & sound of mind.

Depends what you mean by old. Physically it's the 70s. Whatever you look like, people in their 70s have less physical reserve than a younger person in their 40s. In ICU you can see a huge difference in the way their bodies deal with serious illness. Look at the pandemic. Most folk who died of it were in their 60s onwards. Psychologically any age, it can be a state of mind !

My mum is in her early 80s and moans (ironically :) ) about old people who are always moaning about everything. Those "old people" are generally in their late 60s and early 70s

However, I did a parkrun two weekends ago and a lady ran 5k in 48 minutes. My walking pace - but - she was in the 90-94 age category! I want to be her when I grow up!

@Hrpuffnstuff1

45, that's when the aging process kicks in, most people from school look shocking. The men age worse than the women.

Interesting you say that as I always think men age better than women. But maybe only if they look after themselves and don't get fat.

A very interesting thread. My mum was always youthful and I hope I will be like her. I find 70 plus getting old but once again it depends how physically active the person is along with good diet nutrition and vitamins supplements etc. Also whether they hammer the booze cigarettes drugs etc.

I noticed late 50s the 'struggle' to get up from the floor wihtout holding on to help pull yourself up. Your jts and ligaments defiinitely go through some sort of change.
I do exercise now, 15 years on, and try not to pull myself up but use my leg muscles but it's a struggle.
Also the loss of your waist/middle under a large belly - most people my age have a belly.
Memory too, everyone I know humms and 'whatsit called' because they can't recall a name or word.
Being a weightlifter or long distance runner in old age - would definitely need A LOt of daily work. I admire them but have more enjoyable things to do.

Nah, Most men are lard buckets. On a recent spa, trip we were chatting with a group of women and they were bemoaning the physical state of men post 40. Even some younger men are minging.

Proven by the ginormous bellies walking around the pool.
Center park is a good place to look, the men are definitely tubby or weedy. It's just not masculine or more importantly healthy.
People are storing up problems for later in life.

This isn't going to go down well but I'm 43 and consider anyone in their forties to be old. That may be because I don't enjoy the usual activities my friends do so I am usually the oldest person at gigs rather than the average age, if I were at the local cheese and wine bar with other middle aged people.

Depends on how you look at it i suppose... For example, I know this is a different kind of old to what op means but I do feel old now, at 39, because I know I'm nearly out of time to become a mother.