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Are you elderly?

(92 Posts)
petalmoore Mon 01-May-17 21:22:09

I often rearecipes which include raw eggs, pâté, or unpasteurised cheese, which come with the warning that the resulting dish should not be eaten by infants, pregnant women, people with low immunity and the elderly. I often make my own mayonnaise. At 67, am I putting my health at risk? They never tell you how old "elderly'" actually is. I suspect it means "older than I am" however old you are. Can anyone enlighten me?

Izzywizzy Tue 02-May-17 15:39:23

I understand that Mags Having poor health takes its toll on the mind and body.
Some days I feel like I'm 90 in my body but 30 in my mind !

Blinko Tue 02-May-17 15:48:54

Hi Mags1234 I have issues with my stomach, it won't fit into my bikini any more. Not decently, anyway. Does that count? Lol!

grandMattie Tue 02-May-17 15:52:38

I once laughed at the "elderly" thing when talking to a friend. She was an A&E doctor and she severely told me that one was classed as medically "elderly" after 60! So that was me told...

Juggernaut Tue 02-May-17 16:56:28

I'm 59, so I'm just a slip of a girl really!
When my great grandmother was 92 she used to take a neighbour for a 'gentle walk' along the promenade, as "old Mrs Underwood is getting a bit frail now". Old Mrs Underwood was 68, 24 years younger than my great nan!

BRedhead59 Tue 02-May-17 16:58:04

I am only 64 so defo not elderly!! - I do think one should plan for being elderly though. What if you have to give up driving, walking too far, using stairs, travelling abroad, eating certain foods, what will your backup plan be?

grandMattie Tue 02-May-17 17:37:35

I understand that "elderly" is 10 years older than one is now grin

NfkDumpling Tue 02-May-17 18:14:03

That's always worked for me Mattie. When asking for 'senior' discounts, DH always asks for "Two Wrinklies tickets please". It's never been questioned.

Wheniwasyourage Tue 02-May-17 18:21:55

My railcard says that I am a Senior, and I can cope with that, but elderly - definitely not.

annsixty, you know what they say; if you look like your passport photo then you're not fit to travel, so you could probably go wherever you wanted with no hassle.

Jalima1108 Tue 02-May-17 18:23:38

Sometimes I feel elderly and this evening is one of them.
I think it was because I was gardening earlier.

So I can't be elderly although I feel like it at the moment.

Jalima1108 Tue 02-May-17 18:24:49

I think it depends on how much is hurting on any particular day Anya
Some days I feel nearly normal.

Grannycupcake Tue 02-May-17 19:11:52

An old lady died recently at the age of 117. She said she had two raw eggs every day.
Judge for yourself.

M0nica Tue 02-May-17 19:37:57

I think this is one of those let out clauses like the sentences you see on packaged food. 'Does not contain nuts but has been prepared in a factory where nuts are present', or something to that effect.

It means if you eat pate/raw eggs/raw milk, those responsible can say; 'Well, we did warn you that it might make people of your age ill', if indeed that is the result. Although I would like to see a legal definition of the phrase 'elderly'.

I think the answer is, use your common sense. If you are still fit and healthy, do not worry about it (I don't) but if you do have health problems assess the risks and make an informed decision

Sheilasue Tue 02-May-17 20:01:59

Age is just a number your as young as you feel

Jalima1108 Tue 02-May-17 20:13:57

Oh no Sheilasue!!

The interesting conundrum is - we never know how someone else 'feels'. Does my friend who is the same age and seems very energetic and walks the paths around Britain feel like me and push herself through the agonies? Or does she feel more energetic and pain-free?

Deedaa Tue 02-May-17 20:20:37

When it comes to food safety they usually take over 65 to be elderly, but it is only a precaution. I eat runny egg yolks, pate and unpasteurised cheese and I'm not dead yet! I suppose at nearly 71 I must be at least elderly but I seem to see a lot of young people who seem much older.

seacliff Tue 02-May-17 20:27:38

How I feel varies quite a bit. Recently I have been eating badly and put on even more weight, which has made walking fast/climbing quite a few stairs an effort. After an active weekend trying to keep up with younger family, I suddenly feel on the way to "elderly" and I don't like it at all.

It's made me determined to improve my fitness and eat less. It really is a question of my health and mobility. I know it's in my hands.

Caroline123 Tue 02-May-17 20:35:42

I think proper elderly is over 90 these days!

M0nica Tue 02-May-17 20:48:05

When my DF died at the age of 92, after a brief illness, he was still living independently, though nothing of driving nearly 100 miles to visit DS and me and was an active committee member of three local organisations. So lets raise 90 to 95.

Maggiemaybe Tue 02-May-17 23:45:29

My DMIL was 94 when she died. An older friend of hers was distraught because "she's nobbut a young 'un". And I have a very spritely uncle who's coming up to his hundredth birthday and still helping look after his "elderly neighbours", so perhaps we should raise it to 100!

cornergran Wed 03-May-17 04:07:10

At this time of the morning with sleep elusive I feel very elderly indeed. hmm.

W11girl Wed 03-May-17 09:13:44

I'm a mere 64 and do not consider myself as elderly, not would I when I'm 70, 80 or 90! However for clinical purposes there is no getting away from it....as our bodies age internally and well as externally...I notice that when I have a hospital/Doctor appointment I am always referred to as elderly on the notes....Fine with me...until they try and turn off my life support because I'm old and not worth it! In the words of Teresa May...I think they will find I can be a B....ldy difficult woman if it came to that!! You are as young as you feel as far as I am concerned ...."Elderly" is not in my vocabluary.

PRINTMISS Wed 03-May-17 09:22:48

I admitted to be elderly, but why all the fuss? We grow old, we age, it is a word that describes some of us who are older. Just a word, forget about it.

Bluegayn58 Wed 03-May-17 09:34:53

Well, I got a telling off from my mother (she's in her 80's, ill health, 'can't be bothered' to do anything most of the time and talks at me, not to me, etc) when I referred to her as being 'elderly'.

It was not meant to be derogatory in any way, and I thought I was being polite. When I asked what I should have said, she didn't know, however she refers to herself as being elderly when it suits her (when she wants attention).

Everyone is so PC these days you can't say right for saying wrong!

TerriBull Wed 03-May-17 09:40:56

I don't regard myself as elderly considering menopausal symptoms are still very much in evidence, until I get out of bed first thing that is, when I do believe I creak sad I seem to have a much stiffer neck these days, pillows never seem quite right, one always gets thrown out after reading last thing. However, I try and do that rolling neck from right to left and then left to right exercise as per yoga instuctions when I get up, oh that I was better with some of the more advanced moves that ensure greater flexibility. However, having read your post PRINTMISS, I intend to adopt your pragmatic approach to life.

Celeste22 Wed 03-May-17 10:03:26

I m 62. I looked at my bus ticket the other day, which said "elderly concession " "ridiculous,' I thought. I'm not elderly!!