I think 'elderly' may be a state of mind (and of body)...and not a fixed number.

I think age is the last thing "elderly" is. Physical condition/activity level and state of mind and mental acuity predominate.

It's the life in your years, not the years in your life.

I agree with Georgysmom, I think it's a physical and mental mind set. For instance, my Mom became "elderly" after she had a stroke when she was 84...before that she was running circles around her kids!

I'm active, but there is no question that I've slowed down considerably in the last several decades.

I give myself more time to complete home and gardening projects. I don't know that 'elderly' is a bright line, one day you are young and the next day you are elderly, but I'm honest with myself and others when it comes to what I can and can't do, and what I want and don't want to do.

Well, I know when I was a small child, 30 year olds seemed "old", then I became a teen and 50s seemed old, now I'm in my 30s and 70s seems old.

I think that, for one, whatever age is older than my parents seems old. I'm guessing it is due to the fact that my parents don't seem old to me so, whatever is older than them is.

I agree with what the other posters have said though, the older I get, the more I realize it is less a number and more an attitude and state of mind.

My husband's grandma was still walking 2 miles a day, mowing her own lawn, cooking, driving and doing her own grocery shopping etc when she was 96-97. Sure, she had grey hair and wrinkles, you couldn't deny that she was "aged" but I don't think anyone would use the phrase eldery with her. (Most people also guessed her age at being 20+ years younger than she actually was)

She had a shirt I loved that said happy 35th birthday to me!! And then on the back it said (this is a very old shirt), always cracked me up.

She wasn't elderly until the last few years of her life, before passing at 101.

I agree that age is a state of mind. My mind is young...my body is not so young, although I get around well and stay active. My father recently told me he was tired--he had "only" changed the bed linens, washed two loads of laundry, made a pot of chili, and replaced the light fixture in his kitchen ceiling. He said if that made him tired, he was concerned about what would happen to him when he gets old. Dad will be 94 in May!

I always say if your over "25"....your VERY old! ha ha.......after THAT your an adult and adults are OLD!

(My mom got married for the 4th time @ age 74)

I'm a little envious of you, Wanda! My mother is 95 but finally fading... I feel a little elderly in the late night or early morning.

I had to "like" so many answers this morning, on this thread. I am not old, and laugh at "youngsters" born in the 60's and 70's that complain, they are old. I was born in 54.

I'm 69. I would have certainly thought in the past that 69 is old. I don't feel old...except for a few aches and pains. I feel like I am still 12 years old.....unless I look in the mirror, which I don't do any more often than I have to. I think old is a state of mind, but also a gauge of infirmity. I have known people several years younger than me, who looked much older than their age and couldn't get around hardly at all. There was a woman who lived down the bayou from me. I remember asking a friend how old they thought she was, after we left there (after I took some cat food to her). My friend said, "I don't know.....80?" She was 56. Died recently. A poster child to what drinking vodka every day, smoking constantly and doing lots of drugs.....both legal and illegal......will get for you.

I'm 63 and I have always considered, right from my early 20's, that middle-aged doesn't hit until your 70's and I still believe that. And thinking that one is elderly is most definitely a state of mind that some people believe in and wrap themselves up in. Not me. I will never be elderly.

Having worked in a nursing home for several years, I can offer the wording that was used there. Young old and old old. Most of the time, the changing age was about 85. Of course the folks who were living there had a reason (or more) to be there. Young old could be a person who has had a stroke and not much else wrong; however, there might not be a way to have a decent life away from a health-care setting. The folks in a nursing home are there because their health-care needs cannot be met in the community.

Old old or young old? Forget the word elderly! Geriatric?

I saw a news report last week of an "elderly man" who was injured in a house fire. He was 57. I about fell out!

Years ago my father in law insulted me saying I was middle aged at 44. I said, no way am I "middle age". His reply to that was, you really think you will live past 90. I guess there was truth to the statement. I choose to be sure not to act my age.

I wonder if.....elderly might be defined as that time in life when bodily discomfort (arthritis maybe) causes a person to choose to be content, watching instead of participating in life.

(I'm not there!)

Let's all agree on the state-of-mind theory. My older sister (94) feels it is polite to say one is not old....one is old-er. Hang in there everyone. Cheers!

In her late 80's, my mother took us on a hike thru the woods and vales near her house, and we all had a hard time keeping up with ther. She mowed her yard at 90. Once a census person came to her house, and when asked what year she was born, mother said 1909. The woman wrote down 1929, and when my mother corrected her, she was astounded.

I think terminology hasn't caught up with reality! As people are living longer, taking better care of themselves and being more active, the word elderly doesn't exactly fit.

Certain words get a reputation. I think elderly is one of them. When I hear that word, I think of very old, frail, bent over, maybe with a cane or in a wheelchair.

The definition of a senior is also confusing. You can join AARP at 55, but I have to wait until I am 65 to get a senior discount on the NYC subway.

I like Pink's sister's attitude. I am older. Period. End of discussion:)

I see that 'elderly' is sometimes defined as a polite word for 'old'.

Many of us here are indeed 'old'. We sure aren't 'spring chickens'. We are not young, regardless of attitude. Our bodies grow from birth until we 'mature'. We start to 'fail' in our twenties.

Look at the health-related threads here. Youngsters aren't posting about hip replacements, cataracts or slow-healing fractures. They aren't posting about grey hair or losing hair -- or attending more funerals.

We're old, but still moving on. If someone comments that you are 'spry', it may be that you encourage them about their own old age.

As long as I listen to heavy metal music, how can I possibly be "elderly"? At least in my 63-year old mind (LOL)!

On the other hand - "elderly", most certainly, is in the eye of the beholder. Hubby and I were walking out of a restaurant holding hands and laughing at something we were talking about. A young couple (I don't know how old since anyone under 30-years old looks like they're 12 to me - reverse "elderly", eh? ;-), also leaving, stopped his car, rolled down the window and commented about how cute we looked as an older couple STILL holding hands and having such a good time together, and asked how many years had we been married? He was surprised when we said 44-years (just celebrated 45-years on the 20th) because that was obviously ancient to him. And by-the-way - it's just a number.

I took my friend to visit her mother in the nursing home. Her mother was 89 at the time. She didn't like her roommate much and kept calling her "that old lady" and I asked how old was she? 94.... ;-) So it must strike somewhere between 89 and 94.

Okay, one more.... A favorite professor was retiring and we were attending the retirement party. We had been friends with this professor during the college years and knew we had photos of him and us together from back in the early 70's and wanted to take them to remind him who we were. As we went through boxes of photos, I could be heard saying - "Good heavens - when did we have dark hair?" So occasionally, reality bites.....

There are benefits to being elderly, old, ancient, etc. Some don't get the opportunity to be horrified as I was when I first heard someone 8 years younger than I am as "elderly." The nice thing here in Mexico is the respect for old people, even crotchety gringos. I went to Guadalajara to renew my driver's licence. Standing in line, some guy came up to me & asked how old I was. "WHY?" says I. When I told him he escorted me to the front of the line.

Some places have special parking for pregnant, handicapped & old people. There is also a government card that enables the old to get discounts on many things. It's not all bad.

I was watching the news one night and one of the news stories was that of an "elderly 72 year old woman". I didn't like the sound of that as I was 72 and I am now 73. I sure don't consider myself elderly!! :)

At 75, I don't think of myself as 'elderly' and I am certainly not 'spry'. What I have become, I am afraid, is that "cute little old lady" in the wheelchair. Well, I will admit to cute, and little, but certainly not old!

I remember talking to a woman I thought was at least 5 to 10 years older than me..frizzy grey hair, no makeup..found out she is only 2 months older than me..I'm 69..I guess I see myself and my husband as younger than we actually are!

A month ago ... it was someone older than 86.

Now ... someone older than 87.

I consider myself fortunate, in that it isn't often that my body says to me, "Listen, you darnedd old fool - I can't DO that for you any more". I have become a bit more selective, I must admit, as to the things that I ask it to do.

Can't remember a darn thing, though.

ole joyfuelled

I saw a news report last week of an "elderly man" who was injured in a house fire. He was 57. I about fell out!

Or when the new blurb says, 'Grandmother mugged in parking lot!' leading one to believe it's an elderly lady. I became a grandmother at 50.

Years ago, I went to an acoustic concert by a band previously known to be one of the loudest bands in the business. Before the show started, I looked around at the audience, and wondered aloud, "Who are all these old people?" Then I looked at my balding, gray companion, who isn't that much older than myself, and said, "Oh!" To paraphrase Pogo, we have seen the elderly, and they are us!

joyfulguy - your title fits. Yours is a healthy attitude. Once having mown my own lawns, managed rototillers, played tennis etc., now selectively making putz houses, doing decoupage, trying new recipes and the like, but enjoying it all as the ole bod carries on. Cheers.

When I said to my 89 year old neighbor I'm old she said, "you may be old, but I'm old old"! We laugh a lot together, I'm 68.

A long time ago, I read an interview with Carol Channing, in which she claimed to be a Christian Scientist and didn't believe in "age, as a number". I liked that idea...mostly because I could never remember how old I was.....that is an indicator of how important age has always been to me, I think....and I must have been in my 50;s then. I don't think I really began to 'think' about age as a number to remember until I was in my 70's...or, now in those 80's. Maybe 'age' has become an "excuse" "(for me) now days.........something to think about.....hmmmmm.

Wonderful comments and sharing. I love this group!

I feel 17, but I'm the same age as you, Marilyn. When I think of the number, it's startling (but my kids say the same thing about themselves). I can hike miles, chase and wrestle with my grandkids, garden, volunteer in a bookstore. Mentally, I do find myself searching for names and words, which does not please me. I also find the need to slow down and think more carefully about what I'm doing. That also does not please me. I'm grateful for every healthy day I have, for the ability to put my feet on the ground and GO!

At 74, with arthritis in every joint and pain connected to it, I do feel "old". It is so frustrating when my mind says, "yes", but the old worn-out body says "no". But I know my limitations and do as much as I can....and very thankful that I can still live alone and maintain my own house...drive and keep as active with my family and friends as permitted.

Our 89 year old neighbor calls us "kids"...being 69 I told her thank you, not many people are calling us "kids" these days...

You know when your young everyone over 30 is elderly, when we get older we just don't see it that way anymore. My thoughts on the elderly is someone who looks and acts old. that can be 40 or even 90, it just depends on how you present yourself.

I like Jim's thoughts of old/old and young/old Some days, I feel like 17 - some days I feel like 90...

In the medical literature, elderly generally means >65. In trauma (note CDC trauma triage note below), risk of death from injury increases after 55.