How old do you need to be to be considered elderly?

Question

I want to know how old you have to be to be considered elderly.

Answer 1

When you can't get out of bed without any help.  Or when you need to wear Depends all the time.  Actually I'd say it would be when you feel old.  

Answer 2

I do not think it's a question of chronological age, but of physical ability.

Answer 3

This is an easy question, 90 is elderly. from 60 up is middle age.  Just wait till you get here, then you will know.    Poppy

Answer 4

I would think between 65 - 70 would START being elderly.  I still have a few years left!!

Answer 5

Sixty's or around there my guess.

But never call an old citizen elderly, they might slap you with their cane.  

Answer 6

I usually consider people who are frail and weak with many years under their belt to be elderly.  

I'm working in aged care now and many of my clients have been 90 plus but only one of them do  I consider to be almost elderly.  

She has osteoporosis and quite a big hump on her back so that she now stands at 4' 9".  But she can still wash, cook and clean for herself and she has her wits about her.  I take her shopping and we go cafeing together.  She is very funny and often talks about the good times that she had with her husband when he was alive.

One other person I considered elderly was a lady of 76 who lived down the street from me years ago.  She thought of herself as old and even wore a crotcheted shawl around her shoulders.  He family didn't come to visit her.  Her body didn't looked elderly but her face did.

My mum and my MIL are both  72 but they are definitely not elderly.

I looked after a 52 year old 3 years ago who was full of self pity as she had macular degeneration and a type of leukemia.  She was fully ambulant and sat around on her couch talking to various people on the phone about many people and she never had a good word to say about anyone .  She seemed very elderly.  And fat.

Recently one of my men died at 92 years his organs started to pack up six weeks prior and just went down hill.  He was blind and had been for many years but he did his own gardening by touch - he had a string line set up to let him know where the garden beds where.  He had a beautiful garden.  He did his own cooking and washing.  I only considered him elderly  when he started to deteriorate.

So until you lose your marbles you are just a 'senior citizen' .  'Elderly' is something else.

Answer 7

I think of elderly as being 75-80. 60 is a senior citizen, and some act elderly, but at 60 many people are still vibrant and active, and quite likely still working. I am 58 and looking to change jobs. I don't like to think of myself as 2 years from elderly!!! I'm just getting going!

Answer 8

I think that elderly is in the eye of the beholder.  I remember the first time someone called me ma'am and I was about twenty.  I'm sure I looked very old.  Elderly seems to have a bit of a bad connotation assigned to it and implies really old.  Some people are elderly a lot younger than others and the closer you get to your 60 the older the elderly line moves.  You call me elderly and you're probably in for a very bad time.  Even social security doesn't start until 65 or 67 and older now so those folks are viable members of society and hold their place just like you should be doing.  So did I clear that up for you?

Answer 9

Someone is "elderly" to you who is 20 years older than you are.

If your 20, old people are in their 40's or older.

If you are 40, old people are in their 60's or older.

If you are 60, old people are in their 80's or older.

So on and so forth.  That's fairly universal for everyone.

~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years

Answer 10

65 I'd have to say.

Answer 11

It's all relative --- when I was a teen it was 30, now I figure about 85 should do it.(my M-I-L is middle aged -- she's 90)

Answer 12

Anyone that is older than I am. I'm 78 LOL.

Answer 13

All right you young whipper snappers . .= ) Age is a state of mind ! !

I'm 64, my brain says I'm 24, and my body forgot how to talk . . LOL

My granddaughter is teaching me The Solja Boy . . .and I can't wait for 11/9 - Metallica Tour - Columbus . . .  may have to borrow a wheelchair to go, but I'll sure be in that mosh pit ! !  

Answer 14

I think a lot depends on your health & attitude.  

Answer 15

In the West Indies, where I live, you are described as elderly from the age of fifty onwards.  

Answer 16

60 to 70 is on the young side of being elderly.

70 to 80 is the middle of being elderly.

80 to 90 is definitely elderly.

That is if you judge by age. Look in the obituaries and you will see many never reach the age of 60. I know people in their 80's that are in better health than those in their 60's.

Answer 17

When people look at you and criticize your driving without ever having seen you in a car... ever... you are getting there in age. But in terms of numbers the standard social security age for retirement was 65. Recently that has been pushed back a bit for certain age groups but basically 65 is kind of the official marker post. So when you cross the 65 mark there is no denying being senior any longer.

Answer 18

I would say when you start to FEEL old. Age is just a number,you know the saying.

Answer 19

7.

Answer 20

the only correct answer would be two days old -- because any time you are around some one younger than you you could be considered the elder!!!

Answer 21

80 ish

Answer 22

My 60ish brain says 80 something.  lol.

Answer 23

There is no definative answer.

AARP sends you a card when you are 50 years old.

Full retirement age typically is 65.

There is a difference between the phrase "Senior Citizen" and Elderly.  My very active father of 79 is a senior - his mother of 99?  She's elderly (though still pretty active herself).  I know some folks who are elderly (frail) at 60 and others in their 80s still jogging every day.

For me I don't think elderly means when you get your first AARP card or when you retire from working.  I think it refers to when IN your senior years you become "frail".  

Answer 24

60 and up

Answer 25

15 years older than the person who is asking