When my dad died this year when his plane crashed . . .

[Bertha Venation]

. . . news reports and even the coroner's report referred to him as "elderly."

Why is 68 years of age "elderly?" My dad wasn't elderly. He was in his prime.

We weren't close, but I do know he was in his prime -- and flying, he was having the time of his life. It was unfair for him to be marginalized. I see it as marginalization because the implication was "what was a 68-year-old man doing flying an experimental aircraft?" Shitheads.

[madinmaryland]

1. 68 is elderly?

My Dad is 80 and I would not classify him as elderly. Heck, I was helping him clean stuff out of his attic a couple of weeks ago!

[Bertha Venation]

2. I know, right?!

Grr.

[LeftyMom]

3. Elderly doesn't imply decrepitute.

Only that a person is an elder. My grandfather was running marathons in his eighties, so he was in fabulous shape but he was still elderly.

[Tektonik]

4. 68 is elderly

:shrug:

[pitohui]

15. i thought elderly was age 70 or older

not age 68

i wouldn't call that "elderly," i think at that age you have to settle for just being plain old "old" or "older" or "senior" but you don't graduate to elderly until age 70 or even 75

it is not a comment on the person's fitness, it's a comment on their age

[Orsino]

17. Close enough.

Some folks at 68 are still pretty vigorous, but by and large, people slow down when they near senior citizen status. Statistically, 68 is old--only a couple-few years shy of average life expectancy around these parts.

The word "old" has some negative connotations, but when else would we apply it? After we're dead? :shrug:

[WinkyDink]

5. My husband just turned 68; he skis; lifts weights. But he also gets Medicare. He's elderly.

[alarimer]

6. Well someone in LBN was sayin 25-35 year olds were middle-aged.

So I guess then 68 would be elderly. It's not really elderly in my book. But then I'm over the hill according to the poster in LBN. Well, some days I feel like it.

Anyway, those people don't know what they are talking about. People who are active stay young, whatever their actual ages. And it seems like the definition of what constitutes "old" changes all the time.

[Left Is Write]

11. If 25-35 years olds are middle-aged, I guess I'm elderly at age 42.

:wtf:

[pitohui]

16. that poster acknowledged she had a mental illness

she said she was dx'd as bipolar disorder, my guess is that she was at that stage where she has some delusional issues

she was 34 and claimed to be fully middle-aged but she did admit that basically she was off her rocker

as far as people who are active stay young, no, that's just patronizing, the years go past for people who stay active just as fast or faster than they go by for those who are couch potatoes

you can be a fit old person at 68, you do not have to assume that "old" or "older" is a nasty word and that you have been insulted if everyone doesn't pretend to think you are "young" -- i find it a little offensive for someone to refer to me as "young" when i am not -- i am older but it doesn't mean i've lost my brains and/or my eyesight, thank ya verra much

[Left Is Write]

20. Well...I'm not the one who said that "active people stay young" -

so you might want to direct that portion of your reply to that person.

[Wetzelbill]

7. my uncle is around 58 and he's less elderly than I am at 33, lol

My dad is 66, he's hardly elderly either. So I'd have to agree with you on all counts, he was in in his prime. :) Sorry for your loss, too. :hug:

[malta blue]

8. my stepdad is 77 and in better shape than I am.

:wtf:

[mnhtnbb]

9. My 65 yo hubby will collect his first social security check next month

and has claimed for the last 10 years that he's only middle aged. Hmm. Must be nice to have
a life span of 130!

I do tease him, but he would agree that 68 is NOT elderly.

He only recently gave up flying (general aviation license) because he doesn't have enough time
to keep current.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Bertha.

[Genevieve]

10. Male life expectancy in the U.S. is 75.2

That's why 68 years old is regarded as elderly.


I'm sorry about your dad. :hug:

[Left Is Write]

12. Remember that "elderly" is a designation of age only, not fitness, vitality, or ability.

Many elderly people today are much more active and healthy than elderly people of bygone generations.

I don't think of my parents as elderly - they are 69 - but I suppose, based on numbers, they fit the definition.

At 42, I am middle-aged. Fortunately, middle-aged isn't what it once was either.

[Bertha Venation]

14. Yeah... you, and LeftyMom, and Genevieve have pointed out

these distinctions out to me clearly, and I appreciate it. I guess you're only as old as you feel. (My psyche feels 30 but my body feels 80...)

[Oeditpus Rex]

13. The AP Stylebook sez:

elderly Use this word carefully and sparingly.

It is appropriate in generic phrases that do not refer to specific individuals: concern for the elderly, a home for the elderly, etc.

If the intent is to show that an individual's faculties have deteriorated, cite a graphic example and give attribution for it.

Apply the same principle to terms such as senior citizen.

Unfortunately, teevee stations typically do not use AP style and many newspaper reporters and editors don't think to check the Stylebook.

[LisaM]

22. Good find!

I do not think a vigorous 68-year old should be classified as elderly.

[applegrove]

18. That is a little odd. Elderly to me is 75+.

[Tektonik]

19. Well 75 is the average life expectancy of American males (80 for females)

So I think I'd use the term for younger people.

Oedipus Rex is right, it's a term one should avoid using when directly talking about or to someone.

[atmeratus_x]

21. I'm 62...

I may be an ol' fart but I'm damn sure not elderly! :toast: