According to the National Library of Medicine, clinically, anyone over the age of 65 is considered elderly. This is the age many “elders” qualify for certain things like Medicare (and also special discount pricing—woohoo!).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2060, one in four Americans will be 65 or older.
What age comes to mind when someone says “elderly”? Do you think of a person in their 60s? 70s? 80s? 90s? After you vote in the poll below, please leave a comment if a specific age comes to mind. And remember, age is but a number…
At 70 I am beginning to wonder why I am the same age as so many old people.
Ha! Or why those folks that are our chronological contemporaries are so much older than we are?🤣 Have a good afternoon/evening, Rodney. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I selected 90 just to get to the comment section. Many equate elderly with old. I eliminated old from my vocabulary. I have a debilitating disease called DIMINISHING YOUTH and I correct those who say old at least 5 times a week.
I’m currently at 76, retired at 60. Been living a pretty good life considering heart surgery at 71. Granted, I cannot do some of the things that I could and some things I do much slower, but I’m still on the right side of the sod. I do not feel old, much less elderly. So I guess it’s really a personal view.
Remember as a teenager…. not trusting anyone over 30. Cause they were “old”. 😆
I’m 85 and I don’t feel like I’m elderly yet so I selected 90. Hahaha!
I think it is more a matter of attitude than age.
Worked in a nursing home and at a hospital. Some people really do have bad luck and health conditions caused them to age very fast. Some people lived very good lives, no excesses and very active and at 99 were healthier than some 40 year old patients. Everyday is a gift, enjoy every minute…
I said 80 since I won’t be there for 4 years. I hit 76 in two weeks.
I don’t think I will ever be elderly, UNLESS there is a Gov’t benefit in saying so.
I have a neighbor who is 99, active and bright, and lives by himself. He is still haying his property with his own equipment. He says “I can’t believe I am this old!” I would say that he is not elderly yet.
5 years older than me.
The older I get the larger that number becomes!
I like this concept. I’m 84 1/2 and I think “age” is just a number
As I get older, the further being elderly gets
At 87 my philosophy is: ‘Don’t Let The Old Man In’! Once you surrender to the recliner and Tv all day – you are finished with life. The only time I feel elderly is when I get down on the ground and have difficulty getting up – but I roll over and remind myself: ‘Don’t Let The Old Man In’, as written by Toby Keith and from the movie starring Clint Eastwood! (I did age a bit on 27 Oct when I fell flat on my back and head on the ice with the first early, out of season snowfall.)
Wow, D! I’m glad you didn’t break anything! Have a great day, and take care. 🤗 –Diane
Find yourself a good massage therapist AND a Chiropractor to help with that fall on your back.
Comedian Steven Wright was chatting up a girl at a bar. Subject came up about death.He said I know when I’m going to die. She said thats impossible. How do you know. He replied, my birth certificate has an expiration date
It’s not the age, it’s the mileage
Maybe how the mileage was put on!
Sad to report but it seems that most of my lifelong friends are getting up there.
I will turn 78 next month and get a pace maker tomorrow.
My doctor says parts are wearing out.
I feel great except I have shortness of breath walking up hills. I live on the side of a hill
My mother is aged 92+ and walks her dog twice daily for a total of one mile. She cooks, cleans, bathes, does laundry, and drives to pay her water and electric bills each month. I think she is elderly, but still far from feeble. At age 66 I do manual labor. You’re as old as you let yourself become.
I am 80, I don’t look, feel, or act 80. My wife constantly gets on me because I forget to ask for the senior discount.
A friend that we see weekly has a hat thats says ” don’t forget my senior discount. ”
Otherwise we wouldn’t
If you have a 1% or less chance of dying within the next year, you are middle aged.
If you have a 2% or more chance of dying in the next year, you’re considered to be old.
Someone with a 4% or more chance of mortality within a year is defined as elderly or very old.