At what age is considered "elderly"??

[moosmom]

My friend Pam, who turned 60 last week, asked me a very odd question the other day. I was dumfounded. So, I thought I'd post the question here and see if you guys can give me the answer.

At what age is one considered ELDERLY???

I told her I thought 60 was "senior" and not elderly.

I always thought when I was younger, that 60 years old was elderly. Why has my opinion changed?? Perhaps because I'm getting close myself???

Anyone else care to comment??

BTW, Pam does NOT look 60. More like 50.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I'm 25 and I absolutely would not consider 60 elderly. I'd probably consider 80 elderly.

[jackie]

I'm 25 and I absolutely would not consider 60 elderly. I'd probably consider 80 elderly.

Ditto, my step-dad is in his early 60s and very active!

[Husky_mom]

I think it depends on perspective....... one can be very active for their age as compared to others which you might consider elderly......

for example when in high school (17 or so) I refered to a sort of hall monitor as waaaay old and he was 23...... when I turned 23.....LOL..... he was not old....now that I´m 28....... not old enough either!! LOL.......

to me an adult is between 23-30 (and all the rest of course)
an old person(not in a bad way and no meaning to offend) (like my parents age) 45-55.....(as they are not my age range and consider them other generation)
55-65 senior
and 75-??.....elderly

the 30-45 gap could be grown adult....(lacking of better term) :rolleyes:

replace OLD with MATURE......YAY found a better term

[davidpizzica]

I'm a year and a half from sixty! I consider myself pretty active inspite of my various medical problems. I don't think I'm elderly yet!

[caseysmom]

According to my kids that would be 46...or my age :D

[sweetpatata6]

I would conciser about 80 elderly tho one of my grandmas is 86 and still mowes her own lawn and VERY indipendent!!!

[Barbara]

I am not ready to consider anything elderly that's this side of 107. :p

[elizabethann]

I am not ready to consider anything elderly that's this side of 107. :p

You rock! :)

[lvpets2002]

:) I would say around 80 or so.. For sure not 60'sh..

[joycenalex]

20 years older then you is old. 30 years is elderly. this is from my mom (72 and still a dangerous woman)

[Freedom]

I've been told I am VERY literal; feel free to agree with that. :D

I googled the definition of "elderly," and it seems to depend on the context used.

Definitions of elderly on the Web:

aged: advanced in years; (`aged' is pronounced as two syllables); "aged members of the society"; "elderly residents could remember the construction of the first skyscraper"; "senior citizen"
aged: people who are old collectively; "special arrangements were available for the aged"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Old age consists of ages nearing the average lifespan of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle. Euphemisms for older people include advanced adult, elderly, and senior or senior citizen. Older people have limited regenerative abilities and are more prone to disease, syndromes, and sickness than other adults. For the biology of aging see Senescence.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elderly

A person 55 years of age or older as defined by the New York State Human Rights Law, Section 296 of the Executive Law.
www.dhcr.state.ny.us/ocd/pubs/html/cpm04-gloss.htm

"Elderly" means a person or family as defined in the United States Housing Act of 1937, Public Law 412, 50 Stat 888, as amended. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, §106 (new); 1989, c. 6 (amd); c. 9, §2 (amd); c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (amd).]
janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/30-A/title30-Asec4702.html

So if you live in NY, are age 55, and want that discount, then you are elderly! :D

[Catty1]

"It's not how old you are - it's how you are old."
-anonymous

[Freckles]

According to US Census Bureau, "Older" is 55+.
"Elderly" is 65+.

[lizbud]

20 years older then you is old. 30 years is elderly. this is from my mom (72 and still a dangerous woman)


I like your mom. :D Sounds like someone I'd like to meet.We agree on
age. :)

[sirrahved]

I'm 25 and I absolutely would not consider 60 elderly. I'd probably consider 80 elderly.

I completely agree with this statement, except I'm 24 :D

[Pam]

According to US Census Bureau, "Older" is 55+.
"Elderly" is 65+.

Thank you for that Joan! I feel much better now. ;)

Moosmom, tell your friend that 60 is a good thing because it means that retirement is just around the corner. ;) :cool:

[DJFyrewolf36]

In Nevada, you get "Senior Citizen" status at 55, and all the discounts! My dad is 56 or 57 and is still working...doesn't mean he won't take advantage of lower prices :D

My grandmother is almost 80 and dispite having major health problems she is still very active. She told me once that just because you get old doesn't mean you have to act like it. ;-)

[Jessika]

Well when you bring up the "senior" versus "elderly" point... I guess I would have to agree. Then again, I don't think you're "old" until you can no longer walk, feed, bathe, drive, or go to the restroom on your own without help. So until you meet all those requirements... you're still a youngin' to me!!

[Marigold2]

I would say the 80's.

[moosmom]

(72 and still a dangerous woman)

I LOOOOOVE your choice of words! :p

That's how I'm gonna check out...old and DANGEROUS!!! :D :p :cool:

[smokey the elder]

Some baseball player (Sandy Koufax?) said "age is a matter of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter".

[moosmom]

So until you meet all those requirements... you're still a youngin' to me!!

Gee thanks!! ;) ;)

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

When I was still a kid, 50 was almost old, and everyone above 60 was seen as an elderly person :D
But..... (he he), my mind has changed over the years!! Now, I prefer to see "elderly age" as something passed 70 :p

I love this t-shirt:
http://users.pandora.be/bernardgabriels/images/blinkies49-of50jaar.bmp

[K9karen]

It's just a # to me. But I sure as He$$ want to be DANGEROUS the older I get! How cool!

I did join AARP at 50 and I love the discounts. I used to balk at getting "carded"..now I PRAY someone does!!! :p :D :D

I once referred to my mom as "elderly" (she was around 80) and I thought she'd slap me upside my head!