The media generally characterizes people over 65 as elderly. The law has similar guidelines. What are your thoughts?

It's not the numerical age. It's the mental age.

I am 68. So, now, I guess.

81 sounds right for me

99

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
99

"Well, I'll only be 82..."

Five years older than we are right now.

Elderly=N+1, where n= my current age.

I got a pretty big laugh out of this once. My cousin and I were sitting around talking to my grandpa, and he was telling us about the nice young couple that lived at the property behind them. Over the course of the conversation, it came up that the couple was retired, and one of their kids was about to retire. My cousin and I were picturing some 20 somethings just starting their lives at the beginning of the conversation, but they turned out to be in their 70s. Since my grandpa was in his 90s at the time though, it made sense to him.

While legal terminology might set it at 65, in the colloquial use of the word I don't think it's a set number.

If you try to set a number, a 40 year old might say 65, a 65 year old would say 75, a 75 year old could say 90, etc.

Rather, to me, the term "elderly" implies a significant diminishment in capability. Someone becoming frail with limited mobility, or that is unable to fully care for themselves, is elderly. But whether that happens at age 65 or 95 varies from person to person.

I would consider my mother elderly. I would not consider my father elderly. They're both the same age.

Nah. 65 is only "senior".

I think it depends on intent - why classify?

Is it to determine an age for which one is reasonably no longer efficient / effective to work across the breadth of available jobs (physical to academic)?

Or perhaps an age at one might be reasonably be considered to have sufficiently contributed to society (ie - in the labor force for 40 years)? And should shift to reaping benefits of those contributions?

Or is it an age where the labor market can only sustain, on the average given assumed birth rates, 3 generations and so one generation must leave the work force to make room for the incoming generation?

I don't know. But I sure feel old - it's like I don't even know people anymore and can't understand how they think (or don't think, as the case may be). In that case, I've been elder for more than 10 years now,

Groucho Marx always said, "You're only as old as the women you feel."

To answer your question, though:

I spent 10 years as a pharmaceutical sales rep and called on many doctors who had over-age-65 patients.

In general, these doctors would weigh these five factors:

1. Cognitive---Ability to perform daily routine tasks such as household chores, shop, pay bills, make basic financial decisions, set and keep appointments

2. Social---Interact with family and friends, stay busy, engage in hobbies, attend church and/or events regularly

3. Physical---Able to walk unaided or with cane or support, engage in light or moderate exercise (walking, swimming, engaging with pets, etc.; ability to drive safely for routine tasks; number of prescription medications taken

4. Emotional---Signs of persistent stress or depression; degree of reaction to adverse events, loss of spouse/significant other/friends

5. Family Support---Ability and availability of family members to help with some or all of the above.

The doctors I knew would consider a patient "elderly" if the patient checked two or three items in at least three of those five categories AND was over age 70.

Obviously every doctor had slightly different criteria, but this is what my experience seeing these doctors.

I am 68. I'll let you know if I get to elderly.

Probably the age when you start breaking down phyically. For my wife and I, it's mid 70's.

I am 60

my mind sometimes thinks I am in my 30's,

my sense of humor is sometimes below 15 (aren't we all?)

and my knees think I am 100

85

How old would you be if you didn’t know when you were born???
.

Yeah, as alluded to above, there is a difference between being a "senior" and being "elderly". I'm 76, a senior.

I won't be elderly until I'm 85.

At least a year older than I am.

Depends upon how its hanging...