By Chuck Woodbury
I recently came across a survey we conducted where we asked RVtravel.com readers to tell us at what age a person should be considered “elderly.” See the chart below for the range of responses.
I am sure that if we asked this question to a group of college students, the results would have skewed younger. Every so often, for example, the name of one of my high school or elementary teachers will come up. When I think about it, I realize that when I was young I considered some of them “old.” But then, really, now considerably older, I figure they were probably in their late 40s or early 50s.
If you weren’t around when we conducted our survey, you may enjoy a sample of the comments left by the more than 2,500 readers who voted.
• “I am 59 feeling 45 except in the morning when everything aches. I have seen folks at 85 and some can run circles around me! I think you better be pushing 90 before I would call you an old timer. Most start to slow then and smell the roses.”
• “I know so many full-timers almost 90 who are still going a lot better than me at 63. Maybe elderly is a frame of mind.”
• “‘Elderly’ is 10 years older than I am.”
• “I am 70 and used to think my father was really old when he was 60. However, my grandchildren do not think of me as being old. Good news for me. I think age is just a number. How you feel and take care of yourself will leave the impression on others whether you are old or not.”
• “I am a nurse and see mostly patients between the ages of 50 and 90. It always amazes me when I see someone who is 55 and I, too, would term them “elderly,” but only because of their health and appearance. Then again, I had a 77-year-old woman patient the other day who could have passed for 55!”
• “I am 67 and my wife is 70. We walked up to the service counter at Best Buy with a computer problem. A kid about 18 asked what was wrong. We told him and he replied, ‘Oh, Bill can handle that.’ He turned around, took about six steps and said to Bill, ‘The old couple need your help.’ I guess to an 18-year-old we are old – ha!”
• “Old has very little to do with a calendar. It is all about mental attitude and physical condition. If you think you are old or you feel like you are old, YOU ARE.”
• “The older I get, the older old gets!”
What do you think? Please leave a comment.
https://www.npr.org/2013/03/12/174124992/an-age-old-problem-who-is-elderly
Just more on the subject.
Elderly is when they put me in the ground, I’m 70 and still run 3.2 miles and workout. I believe it’s all in the mind when and how you handle, with God’s grace any hurdle you come to.
My dad always told me
“Gettin old ain’t for sissies, you gotta be tough”
He was sooooooo right.
My 93 year old mother says the same thing. She’s far sharper than I am.
My friends and I call each other “old man” and “Geezer”, but in truth, none of us feel like we’re old (and we’re in our 60’s and 70’s). And by the way, how did this happen? How did I get this old all of a sudden? 🙂
I think I the ‘Rolling Stones ‘ from back in the mid-60s said it best, “What a drag it is getting old”. But at almost 70, I ain’t there yet.
Yeah, and especially Keith Richards!
The word is not elderly. It’s “seasoned.” 😉
Old is when I can’t get out and enjoy my RV anymore. I just don’t think that will happen!
When I was younger, I thought growing older would take longer.
Ain’t that the truth, Kenn?
At 87, my Dad was vibrant, no change in mental acuity, traveled, did everything. After a heart operation he coded. They said he won’t make it until morning. Then they said he’d need dialysis for his remaining days, then 3x/week, then weekly, then not at all. They said he’d need a walker for the rest of his life. After rehab, he told the therapist next week he wouldn’t need the walker and a week later the walker was gone. Unfortunately 2 years later he succumbed to undetected stage 4 cancer
WW2 era people, they spit in the eye of adversity and walk right over the top of it. It is a real shame that doesn’t play well today. You know the saying… “they don’t make them like that any more”
About a year ago, at a family dinner, I posed the question “Who is considered elderly”. My 67-year-old brother answered “Anyone older than me!”
I think it is often a question of mindset. Even those with debilitating health issues can still have a youthful spirit!
People always think I’m younger than I am because I have very little grey at 67. In contrast, my sister was very grey in her 50s. Unfortunately, I have mobility issues and need a rollator or I would probably appear younger. Elderly to me has always been someone really wrinkled looking in the face and hands. My mom got some good genes because she will be 90 this year and she definitely looks younger. Unfortunately, Parkinson’s disease has left her legs immobile with weak arms and hands.
Years ago, I discovered in talking with individuals that it is one’s mental age that means more than one’s physical age. So I make it a practice of asking a person’s mental age as this to me is more of an indicator of what I have observed regarding a person’s outlook and enthusiasm for living. Yes, I may be 76 with aches and pains and some health issues, but mentally I’m only 35 looking forward to many more productive and creative years.
I’m just 35, but somehow find myself in a 74 year old body. I think it is that new math they invented some years ago – there’s no way that 2019 minus 1945 can be 74. I just figure that one day I accidently walked into that space – time continuum thingy that I’ve heard talk about. Who would have thought that when I was 18 and fell off a box car and twisted my back that it would take this long to show up. I’m going to fight this all the way to the MRI machine!
When my cousin and I turned sixty, he said we were old, but we were the young of the old. When we turned seventy, I said, “Welcome to the middle-aged of the old.” When we turn eighty, we’ll be the old of the old. When we turn ninety, we’ll be the walking dead.
I was elderly before now I’m young again.
Good job, Bob! 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
How old would you be if you didn’t count birthdays?
Dead? 😉 My theory is that getting old is (usually) better than the alternative. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Hi Diane
Ey had a bumper stickers made up. “Want to keep getting older? Don’t knock on my door in the middle of the night.” Never had a knock!
AND “Is there life after death? Trespass here and find out.”
Ey know, Ey should lighten up. At 78 , not as tough as Ey used to think Ey was.
Your friend, Loneoutdoorsman
Thanks, Loneoutdoorsman. Those are good messages, all right. Have a great day! 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
I am 88 male going on 98…..My brain is working but the external body is collapsing.
So I think old is when you begin to deteriorate. In my case it was 80.
The obituaries show that 80-85% of folks die before 88.
JH
P.S. I really hate that CAPTCHA stuff since the pictures are too small for my eyes.
Got my first horse and started riding at age 68—still going strong at 76. My 72 yo husband still runs 1/2 marathons.
Some years ago my 85 yo father broke his arm sliding into base, so guess I got good genes. Dad always said, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are.”
At 72 I switched insurance companies. I had to take a physical that I am sure would have qualified me for a NASA moon shot. The Doctor said that I was in the shape of someone in his 40’s. Since it was on my past record that I had some problems swallowing bread, I was sent for an upper GI. During the procedure my esophagus tore and a lung collapsed. A year and 4 surgical procedures later, I was “elderly.” I have been dedicated to rebuilding and am happy, at 76, to consider myself recovering and no longer elderly. Daily exercise and attitude go a long way to keep the “elderly bug” at bay.
Absolutely inspired this almost 74 yr old. Am not in great shape and have some weight to get off, but I have a really young mind. I have residuals of an old auto accident where I was thrown from the car. Was “Buff”, having worked out to accept an instructor position at Nautilus Fitness Center in Texas. Well, that ended that – lots of nerve damage and that does slow me down a bit. But, I still have energy and can run circles around many folks 20 or 30 yrs younger than I. I am determined to get back to the JumpSport Rebounder and my great digital cycle. You have inspired me, Richard Hughes.
While still happily towing (I’m a road camper, not a destination camper), I recognize some slowing tendencies. And I was born pre-WW2. While retaining my health and much of the motivation, I can’t help being conscious of the fact that I’m a over a half-century older than the attractive 27-year-old waitress at a diner that I frequent.
So I’m elderly…. (but still active).
Frank 🙂
Parts of me are older than others.
I am 77 and my lovely wife is 80, many people who meet us think we’re much younger. My wife looks closer to 65 and acts closer to 55. If not for my knee needing replaced which will happen within the the next couple of months, I could pass for early 60s. I jokingly tell people I don’t want to come back to Florida because it has too many old people. When I told my son that he asked if the mirrors were broken in the motor home. Age is a number, it’s how you feel inside, if you think you’re old you will feel and act old. My Dr. who is a year younger than me said he wished more of his patients were like me. I take 2 prescriptions and a few over the counter supplements.
It’s not the age, it’s the miles! I’m not “old” , I’m older.
I am old enough to be on SS and retired if that counts as old then so be it. Yes I have parts that need to be replaced and some that have been worn out and removed. However, old is a relative term. If you feel old, you are. If you don’t, you’re not. I feel like I will be old someday.
A woman is as “old” as she looks; a man isn’t old till he stops lookin’.
I’m 80; look 70; act 60; and “sometimes” wish I was 60.
I’m sorry, what was the question?
😆 —Diane at RVtravel.com
I agree that old has a lot to do with state of mind. My niece is astounded at how “young” my wife and I are (both 73) but that is mostly a result of keeping an open mind and accepting change. We both have our health problems but we do not allow those to keep us from enjoying life.
Your only as old as you feel. That’s why I have a younger wife so I can feel younger. (Big Smile)
My mother-in-law was elderly at 56. She had no hobbies, no outside interests, never went anywhere, sat around and thought about her aches and pains, gloom and doom. My mother was still young at 86 when she died – laughed a lot, took an interest in everything, got out and went places, kept up with friends, glass always half full. Age is a matter of attitude.
I read the question wrong then, of course, I entered the wrong answer. It SHOULD have been “I rarely use my cruise control.”