Middle age

[Wispy68]

When do you become 'middle aged' and when are you classed as 'elderly'?

[Traceyyy]

Good question Nicola Jane, i always thought about elderly people in terms of being frail and a bit doddery but since i started working in a shop ive had to think again, there are some surprisingly sprightly 80 yr olds out there !!

[xyzzyplugh]

35 & 65.

[bimsey]

No never 35 oh my god Im heading for old age and didnt even know it...must order that zimmerframe!!!

[Ewood27]

You are 'middle aged' is when you are as young as ever, but it takes more effort. Perhaps 'elderly' is when you accept you're not young any more. Me, I'm to old to care about the precise definition!

[BenDToy]

I would always like to think middle aged is just a little bit older than me. But I may be starting to stretch that one now!!

[WendyW]

I'm with you benD Toy .. only other people get to be middle aged and elderly.

[boognish76]

xyzzyplugh - in your 'younger generation' topic you classify the younger generation as being 16-36, yet here you say you're middle aged at 35. How can you be the younger generation and middle aged at the same time?

[bluedolphin]

Last year in a medical report from one doctor to another doctor, that I was given and subsequently read and photocopied I was described as young-middleaged at 41.......!

[bluedolphin]

Whoops just remembered reading in a magazine that 50 is the new 30.

[lesiy]

you are middle aged when you are 30 and elderly when your 45

[Spellmaster]

Judging by that astonishingly offensive and stupid reply, I wouldn't be surprised if lesiy is under the age of 30. Even by simple mathematics it's barmy - the average lifespan of a British female is now nearly 80, so 30 isn't even near halfway there and therefore can't be middle aged. In any case, to describe someone of 45 as elderly is just ignorant, stupid and ridiculous - and before anyone comments, I'm a long way off 45 myself.