Are You "Elderly" Yet?

Buckeye said:
I was looking at an online ad for a certain type of shoe that was, it said, "the best one for the elderly to wear all day". So I thought, naturally, that they were referring to my mother and step father, who both were in their 90s when the passed away. Then it dawned on me. I'm 78, and I AM their target demographic. Thud.
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You have described me to a tee. The calendar reads 2024, I was born in 1946, like you that makes me 78. A few decades ago previous generations had a different outlook and simply accepted their lot. We here in the UK perpetrated the term "old." The state pension has always been known as the old age pension, and pensioners are still referred to as OAP's (old age pensioners.)

We Babyboomers though have more or less changed perceptions throughout our lives, why should old age be any different, I can tell you this. The shoes that I buy won't have the slogan: "the best one for the elderly to wear all day".

grey & white brogues.jpg
 
No, not me, I am middle-aged, but the summers
that I have seen, make me elderly in some eyes,
still, I am only 83.

I read in a newspaper last week, that the first
person to live till 200 years old, is alive now.

Mike.
 
I don't use words like old or elderly because my body has no idea how old it really is and complies pretty with what I want for it.

I do mind the cold more than I did years ago so I turn the heat up to 78-80 when it's very cold and soon I am completely limber. I can feel my joints put on their happy faces. :giggle::giggle::giggle:
 
In the eyes of the media anyone born before WW2 is invisible.

There are those who find it profitable to push the idea that being a senior starts at age 50.
 
The oldest person ever whose age has been independently verified is Jeanne Calment (1875–1997) of France, who lived to the age of 122 years and 164 days. The oldest verified man ever is Jiroemon Kimura (1897–2013) of Japan, who lived to the age of 116 years and 54 days.

Sprightly Brian Wilson has no plans to put the brakes on his 70 year career just yet, despite celebrating his birthday today. Britain’s oldest trucker says he's in it for the long haul as he carries on driving trucks at the grand age of 91. The granddad is so dedicated to his job he gets up at 5:00 am and works up to 12 hours a day delivering goods from the depot in Sheffield, to sites across the country. Brian, who can still hop up on the back of his truck without assistance to tie down a tarpaulin with rope, says only ill-health would stop him from working.

Ivan Roitt, 87, is emeritus professor at Middlesex University’s Centre for Investigative and Diagnostic Oncology. He lives in Finchley, north London, with his wife, Margaret. There was no conscious decision, I just went on working. When I finished as head of immunology at University College London, after 25 years, a colleague asked if I would like to go to Middlesex University. I thought, “Let’s do something useful”, so I set up the cancer research centre.

Jean Miller, 92, is cloakroom attendant at the Vidal Sassoon hair salon on Princes Square, Glasgow. Jean, a widow, drives the 25 miles from her home in Falkirk. When I first came here, I thought, “What on Earth am I doing in among this young crowd?” But I’ve been here 17 years now and I love it. They are quite a cheeky lot sometimes. There was a rule made: “Don’t swear in front of Jean.” Half the time now, I don’t hear what they’re saying, but when they say, “Oh, sorry Jean”, I know.

Evdokia “Ducia” Stafford, 90, has run the Beehive Inn in Pencader, Carmarthenshire for 60 years. She is originally from the Donbass region in Ukraine, and her British husband, John, died 14 years ago. She lives alone at the pub, has no staff and opens every evening.
I was tired of moving around and told my husband I wanted my own place, so he bought me this. When I came here, it was just two little cottages. I stripped it and opened it up. I like working: why would I stop? Where can I go? I’ve got a nice place here, so I might as well stay.
 
KSav said:
😁 I went to the movies the other day and the ticket taker automatically charged me the senior rate. I'm only 56! I was joking to my daughters, "Do I look that bad?"

I understand that senior discounts can start at age 50, but still . . .

I do not consider myself "elderly" (yet).
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To the Kids who staff the ticket booth, anyone over 30 looks ancient.
 
Yes, the connotation of "elderly" is someone with decreased physical capacity, but of course that's simply semantics. To me, "senior" is someone 65 or older.

I was pretty frisky up until my early/mid '70s, when I could tell I was slowing down in terms of stamina. Now at 80 I realize I'm old, but I still feel pretty good. No major health problems, and I can still take care of my 1.5 acre homestead. But I simply don't have much stamina anymore for labor. Still, I'm grateful. It could be much worse...:cautious:
 
ChiroDoc said:
Yes, the connotation of "elderly" is someone with decreased physical capacity, but of course that's simply semantics. To me, "senior" is someone 65 or older.

I was pretty frisky up until my early/mid '70s, when I could tell I was slowing down in terms of stamina. Now at 80 I realize I'm old, but I still feel pretty good. No major health problems, and I can still take care of my 1.5 acre homestead. But I simply don't have much stamina anymore for labor. Still, I'm grateful. It could be much worse...:cautious:
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Some are old at 40.
 
I suppose I am. Maybe... I don't feel any different.

I went to my graduation ceremony at age 63. The guy at the door was sending graduates to one side and guests to the other. He tried to send me to the guests' seats. I had to tell him. He was a bit startled, but to be fair, it was funny. I must have been about the oldest graduate there. 😀
 

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