Are You "Elderly" Yet?

B

Buckeye

Well-known Member
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.

Okay, maybe they mean my older, 80 something siblings. Nope. I don't know where the line for "elderly" is, but I'm sure I've crossed it.

Where do you think that line is and have you crossed it?
 

CallMeKate said:
Absolutely not! I may consider rethinking it years down the road when I'm out of my 60s but for now, no way.
Side story... the first time some bozo at an attraction asked if I'd like the senior discount rate, I coulda decked him. 🤭
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😁 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).
 
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.

Okay, maybe they mean my older, 80 something siblings. Nope. I don't know where the line for "elderly" is, but I'm sure I've crossed it.

Where do you think that line is and have you crossed it?
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In my mind when I think of an elderly person, I think of someone who is fragile, perhaps very slow and not able to walk, sit, reach, etc. without great difficulty. I'm in my early 70s, definitely old and a senior, but I still take brisk walks with my dog, do house and yard work, and can lift fairly heavy things if I stay mindful not to injure myself. I wouldn't say all seniors were elderly, but I guess many years ago, that's how they were all considered. I don't think I crossed the line yet, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.
 
My Dad was fearless when it came to heights. I had to tell him to stay off ladders and the roof when he was in his 80's. He asked me why? I told him "that splat and crunch you hear when you hit the ground is not the sound of a young man bouncing up and walking it off."
 
I found this:

At a basic level, the words elderly and senior are used to describe two different situations. While “senior” is used to describe an age group, “elderly” refers to a matter of capability.​
​
Seniority denotes the actual age of a person rather than their level of physical and mental capacity. For example, while your parent may be 70 years old, they may still have the physical and mental capabilities of a 65-year-old. The Elderly refers more to the function and capability of an individual rather than their age. An elderly person, despite their exact age, may exhibit various health issues and difficulties that come with aging.​

While I can see the argument this still feels like a PC cop-out. There are folks pushing 70 who think, act, and feel more like 55 to 60 and not 65.

Maybe we don't have enough agreed upon discrete words for the varying stages of decrepitude. If you dress like a successful 1930s gangster but lean on a cane to stand up... you might be elderly.
 
dilettante said:
I found this:

At a basic level, the words elderly and senior are used to describe two different situations. While “senior” is used to describe an age group, “elderly” refers to a matter of capability.​
​
Seniority denotes the actual age of a person rather than their level of physical and mental capacity. For example, while your parent may be 70 years old, they may still have the physical and mental capabilities of a 65-year-old. The Elderly refers more to the function and capability of an individual rather than their age. An elderly person, despite their exact age, may exhibit various health issues and difficulties that come with aging.​

While I can see the argument this still feels like a PC cop-out. There are folks pushing 70 who think, act, and feel more like 55 to 60 and not 65.

Maybe we don't have enough agreed upon discrete words for the varying stages of decrepitude. If you dress like a successful 1930s gangster but lean on a cane to stand up... you might be elderly.
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Elderly is just a word; a very negative word as in show me to the crematorium.
 
Elderly? Still working on the grown up thing. A black clingy sleeveless short dress with something like an attach wing thing followed me home yesterday. The sparkling pin holding it together will be replaced by 1940s rhinestone or Hopi needle point. I was looking for a pair of pants as I have nothing in the closet to wears outside the house or to Walmart.
 
When my back gives me hell (spasms, this go-round being about 3 weeks now), yeah, I feel elderly. At 68, I'm young compared to most commenting on this thread, but as the saying goes, "I've ridden hard and put myself up wet most of the time."

Or something like that. :cool:
 
dilettante said:
I found this:

At a basic level, the words elderly and senior are used to describe two different situations. While “senior” is used to describe an age group, “elderly” refers to a matter of capability.​
​
Seniority denotes the actual age of a person rather than their level of physical and mental capacity. For example, while your parent may be 70 years old, they may still have the physical and mental capabilities of a 65-year-old. The Elderly refers more to the function and capability of an individual rather than their age. An elderly person, despite their exact age, may exhibit various health issues and difficulties that come with aging.​

While I can see the argument this still feels like a PC cop-out. There are folks pushing 70 who think, act, and feel more like 55 to 60 and not 65.

Maybe we don't have enough agreed upon discrete words for the varying stages of decrepitude. If you dress like a successful 1930s gangster but lean on a cane to stand up... you might be elderly.
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Okay, l can go for that. Maybe.
 
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