I.m not that old. !!!

Sorry Murraymint, you became Geriatric when you turned 65yrs of age.

But I do sympathise, in my head and heart I am only 40ish but my body is fast approaching 70........

I was described in my notes as an ‘elderly’ primigravida when having my first baby at 28!

I don’t recall the G word being used in any of the hospital appt. letters I received for follow up appts. (having been in hospital for 3 weeks last March) but any copies of letters between doctors certainly mentioned my age (74 then).

An undoubted fact, but it’s not exactly uplifting to see it in cold hard print!

Most hospitals only admit people under geriatric care when they are over 75, or at least 70.
I imagine with the current issues in the NHS, people are admitted wherever possible, even if not the most appropriate place. When I was waiting for a hysterectomy I was told that the gynae ward was always full of elderly people during winter so no surgery would happen until spring.

I had a pre-assessment by phone recently and was asked if I could walk and move normally, presumably because I am over 70. On the other hand, the online form I had to complete asked if I could carry heavy furniture or play football or ski. I said no to those!

I hate that term. I feel 50 years old but actually over 70.

HA HA HA!

A few years ago I had trouble with my left leg/foot and had to spend all night in a cubicle in A&E before they transferred me to a ward. But before they ''warded'' me they had to send me to another section for a few hours until a ward patient was released.

They sent me temporarily to Gynecology even though I was 54 at the time and the nurse joked ''you're a bit old for having a baby!''

Knitandnatter

Sorry Murraymint, you became Geriatric when you turned 65yrs of age.

But I do sympathise, in my head and heart I am only 40ish but my body is fast approaching 70........

So we're geriatric before we retire! Great

We need a new term for golden people.

Sounds like a new thread

Yesterday I was waiting to cross a busy road after an hour’s walk with my dog when a woman walked past then came back to ask if I needed help to cross.
I’m a fit and healthy 79 but her kind offer made me feel geriatric.

From the knees down I'm 20 , up old enough to have a bus pass but not for the hairdresser to give me the elderly discount. The barber does DH and he actually looks younger than me as he still has black hair not much of it but it's black.

It is deeply depressing when the press refers to someone in an article as being "elderly" when he or she is only in their early sixties. As for the use of the word "geriatric" ...................... it is awful and even more depressing. One might be flipping ancient and the body is falling apart at the seams but the brain has not yet caught up - well mine hasn't anyway! Maybe we should start an action group to change the terminology, just as other activists have done!!

I was really pleased when I read a consultant’s letter to my GP described me as a “ very pleasant lady”, with no mention of the word ‘ elderly’, though of course my date of birth was somewhere in the letter.
This was following a fracture. When I was asked by the clinician ‘“Would you say you are active?”, I replied,” Yes, but it’s all relative”, meaning I lead a normal sort of life without restrictions, as long as it is at my own pace. I don’t go to the gym or do anything other than short walks and housework to keep physically active, but am very active mentally and in the community.
She ticked the box for Active. Surprised but pleased.
Not everyone downgrades us.

I find the answer to any suggestion that I may be 'elderly' is either a frosty stare, something akin to Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey, or a flippant 'whatever' as said by those far, far younger than I am.

After my first heart attack at 64, I was classed as a geriatric patient. I wasn't too pleased initially. However, it's only a category and as long as I get the care I require, I don't care!

When I went to my GP with knee pain, I told him it was preventing me from going on my daily walks. He says “ Well, surely you’re not planning to climb Mount Everest, are you? “ And told me to buy anti-inflammatories - there is a joke there somewhere, but I couldn’t find it at the time.

When I was working being elderly began at 60.
At the time when I was young, I thought 60 was quite elderly, now I wish I was 60.

I am old but do not feel it and generally ignore the fact. However, I have been known to play the ‘poor old lady ‘ when
it gives me preferential treatment!

Cabbie21

I was really pleased when I read a consultant’s letter to my GP described me as a “ very pleasant lady”, with no mention of the word ‘ elderly’, though of course my date of birth was somewhere in the letter.
This was following a fracture. When I was asked by the clinician ‘“Would you say you are active?”, I replied,” Yes, but it’s all relative”, meaning I lead a normal sort of life without restrictions, as long as it is at my own pace. I don’t go to the gym or do anything other than short walks and housework to keep physically active, but am very active mentally and in the community.
She ticked the box for Active. Surprised but pleased.
Not everyone downgrades us.

I had a consultants letter to my GP a couple of years ago describing me as a “very pleasant lady” - I wondered if it was medical staff code for…..?

Very often the word "elderly" is automatically coupled with "vulnerable", as if you're so doddery you can't even make a cup of coffee. "Vulnerable" conjures up a monochrome image of someone 70+ stuck in a recliner chair all day alternating between dozing and dribbling!
I loathe the damn word.

i don't like to disillusion anyone, but...
i don't think, this v pleasant lady, is used of anyone under 60.
everyone at work is aware that everything may be read by the subject eventually, and codes are used.

I used to referred to as this charming lady etc in doctors letters, wondered if it was code for ‘not an axe murderer‘.

This hasn’t happened for a while now. Now I am mrs S the patient, my charm is no longer mentioned.

Letter from cardiologist about Mr C included ‘this pleasant gentleman and his supportive wife’. Suspect it was code for interfering!