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Geriatric??

(161 Posts)
ninathenana Thu 31-Jul-14 16:29:45

I have just read a post on another forum from a lady complaining about receiving a letter from Geriatric Medicine asking her to attend the clinic for a check up. She is 65 and not happy to think of herself as geriatric. I don't blame her, she says to her it's brings to mind a decrepit old person. At what age do you think it's ok to be called geriatric?
What do you think of the term ??

I do realise in this case it's a medical term.

SuFlay Fri 01-Aug-14 10:23:11

I must say I think that's horrible. When I used to work in a factory as a young girl one of the overlookers there was married to a mean man. He was a drinker and she said the only way she managed to get the money together for their holidays with the kids was to charge him 2/6 a time. But us girls on the factory floor were shocked by that and that was in the sixties.

Galen Fri 01-Aug-14 10:13:39

I certainly didn't seduce my late husband to get money. As I was the higher earner it was more likely to be the other way round.
In fact we worked as a partnership with each putting an amount into a joint account for household expenses.

Lilygran Fri 01-Aug-14 10:05:45

Silverfish you don't accept those posters who say they don't behave as you describe. You think it's because we aren't being honest? I think you are right about many of us not disclosing all our private lives on GN but that isn't the same as being dishonest. Not all women behave as you describe and not all men think with their d***s.

Silverfish Fri 01-Aug-14 09:30:31

Iam64, like Ive just said to think I am speaking about individuals is silly as I don't know you.

Iam64 Fri 01-Aug-14 09:28:28

ARGH - correction to previous post needed . I missed out the key word "not" in the first sentence. as in 'you certainly are NOT speaking for me Silverfish". That's what happens when you type and eat cereal at the same time, or when your age is showing in your word skills

Silverfish Fri 01-Aug-14 09:28:25

whats wrong with stirring up a lively debate, I really do think men are useless and can be manipulated to get their money etc, however what are we all doing on here, are we all having a moan or do we want a lively debate. I use the phrase 'we all' in the loosest way possible, of course I don't know whats in individual minds and to suggest otherwise is silly so when I say 'we' or 'we all', I am referring to what the majority of people I have met, what I have learned from the media and from life experience.
I do think that not everyone is honest as I am, I get the impression that many of you try to give out an edited version of yourselves. At least Im honest

Iam64 Fri 01-Aug-14 09:27:04

Agree with mcem, lilygran and earlier posters - you certainly are speaking for me Silverfish, at any stage of my life.

I still felt middle aged in my 50's Lilygran, but now in my mid 60's, I accept I'm part of an older generation. I suspect that longer life spans, and much improved diet/health care, means that people in their 60's and 70's are fitter than previous generations were in those age groups.

Finding the right term to name an age group - I prefer adolescent to teen, but how long is adolescence these days. I used to think it ended around 18, when young people could vote, and get married without parental consent. That still feels about right to me, but given how many adult children are still living with parents, or in shared houses, I wonder if adolescence has been extended. If so, maybe that's fair also, because that generation will be working till their 90's the way pension provision is being changed.

FlicketyB Fri 01-Aug-14 09:22:27

Silverfish, I think you must have been in some unfortunate relationships. Except when my children were small, when I considered that I earned my share of the family income by looking after our children I have always worked and been financially independent. I have never had to use any wiles of any kind to weedle anything out of DH. We have both always funded our own personal expenditure and the rest has gone into the common pot.

But to return to the subject! When an aunt of mine, in her 80s, was rushed to hospital her GP was absolutely insistent that she was not to go into the geriatric ward but be admitted to the general medical ward. I understand that no one quite understand why, but the hospital followed the GP's instructions. When my aunt's condition had been stabilised and she had had a good night's sleep they found out why. She was a highly intelligent woman who had been the head of a large school of nursing in London and still had a razor sharp mind. They told her the story and said the GP was right she would have been quite out of place in geriatrics where most of the patients had dementia.

Lilygran Fri 01-Aug-14 08:58:43

Sorry, nina, distracted from the OP! They say 'care of the elderly' round here. I don't mind being 'elderly'. At 70+ I can't say I'm 'young', can I? A more contentious question is, what is middle-age?

Lilygran Fri 01-Aug-14 08:53:44

I agree that Silverfish is mistaken to think all men and women behave like this. It suggests that all men are too stupid to know when they are being manipulated and all women are dishonest and manipulative.

mcem Fri 01-Aug-14 08:35:17

Far from speaking for all of us, silverfish doesn't live in my world. However "we all" are aware of her blatantly obvious attempts to stir things up!

inishowen Fri 01-Aug-14 08:31:34

I would consider 80 to be geriatric. I'm 62 and feel I'm in my prime. Life has never been so good. We have the grandchildren to keep us young, we are financially comfortable, and have time to go on lots of short breaks. It always amazes me that "over 50's" is a title given to certain things. Like the "over 50's show" which is held here annually, the "over 50's" pilates classes etc., To me 50 is middle age. As 62 I wouldn't go to anything with that title!

Lona Fri 01-Aug-14 08:20:02

So much for womens lib!

absent Fri 01-Aug-14 03:28:09

Quite right Eloethan. I find sweeping statements that "we all" do something, want something, watch something, etc. infuriating. I have pointed out before that other people on gransnet have no grounds for thinking that they can speak for everyone else (and got a whining complaint from the poster concerned).

It would be pretty pointless trying to seduce my husband into giving me any money as he doesn't have a penny to his name and hasn't had for years. Quite apart from the fact that when I get into seduction mode, my own pleasure is uppermost in in my mind.

Eloethan Thu 31-Jul-14 23:38:19

Silverfish You are entitled to say what you think or what you do, but please don't use the word "we" to speak for other people. No doubt there are those who agree with your opinions or can identify with what you are saying, but that doesn't mean "we" all do.

Silverfish Thu 31-Jul-14 22:54:25

This post is about older folk, well Ann Summers is selling more sex toys to over 65 than ever before so what does that tell you, the oldie blue rinse brigade are going off to bingo leaving their old men with a smile on their faces.lol

Silverfish Thu 31-Jul-14 22:50:19

its true we all do it. I used to seduce my husband if I wanted some money etc. Even though I was working I still did that, he had no probs, he didn't know that I was after something until afterwards.
My friend does similar, she makes her husband a nice meal with booze etc, maybe they end up in bed after all,I don't know that but she gets him in a good mood to ask for something expensive. WE ALL DO IT if we are honest but I suspect some of us aren't honest

Anne58 Thu 31-Jul-14 22:44:14

Ooops, typos in my post, but still stand by what I said

Going to bed now, hoping for a better night than last night, dreams so bad I ended up leaving the light on.

Best wishes to you all, moon

Ana Thu 31-Jul-14 22:40:34

What??? You believe that if you want to, Silverfish...hmm

Anne58 Thu 31-Jul-14 22:39:11

Silverfish , you have just opened up a whole new can of worms there, I'm not going to go into it, except to say that int his instance you couldn't be more wrong if you tried!

Silverfish Thu 31-Jul-14 22:32:03

I still think you lot with husbands are much better off than us single girls.
I sometimes think that marriage is just a form of prostitution, you give him sex and he pays the bills.

Silverfish Thu 31-Jul-14 22:29:47

phoenix, I am the same I work but have no pension provision I have a mortgage till I am 70, my work depends on my being physically fit as it is production related. I would have been happy to retire at 60 then I would have been eligible for some benefits but 66 is the age to retire for me so I miss out again, sometimes I wish I had remarried just for financial security but then I think Ive got my house, do things my way, got no-one telling me what to do and I think Im lucky but I HATE THE BLOODY GOVERNMENT RULES ON RETIREMENT

Charleygirl Thu 31-Jul-14 21:51:00

phoenix you have to sort out the paying back in order of priority. I would be inclined to pay the Inland Revenue first as they have a nasty habit of adding interest before you blink. You and Mr.P need a car so fixing that would be next on my list. There is no sign of cold weather yet so maybe the ordering of oil could wait about 6 weeks?

I have never been in your situation but I have read most of your posts and I can feel that you are almost at rock bottom. I do hope that something crops up soon.

NanKate Thu 31-Jul-14 21:11:26

We're rooting for you Sparkygran you seem to be going about it the right way. A bit of dark choc would help too. grin

Ana Thu 31-Jul-14 20:09:46

Yes, it does, sparkygran! grin