What do you consider is elderly?Please state your age in answer.?

Question

I am 68 and still working .Do I deserve a special seat on the buses.

Answer 1

Hi Norman. I think our definition of 'elderly' definitely changes as we grow older, always moving up a few years ahead of where we are! It also seems to have moved up in the course of generations. My grandparents, in their photos, look elderly at 50, but my parents don't appear old in their photos until 70 or more. Today, there are people of 80 or more who don't seem 'elderly' because they are so lively, active, and interested in life. As for seats on the buses, one of the great ironies in life is that we were taught when young to give up our seats to older people, but now we're in a position to benefit, no one does it any more! I'm 58 - good luck to us wrinklies!

Answer 2

I'm 16. I don't define elderly by an age; I would classify a 30 year old who showed key signs of old age (frequently complaining, worrying a lot about irrelevant things, buying about 4 newspapers per day, losing sense of what is socially acceptable, wearing things so unfashionable they're actually fashionable, knowing the daytime TV schedule by heart, not caring what people think of you at all and repeatedly telling the same stories over and over) as elderly. I know a 65-year old who looks in her late 40s and is as (if not more) full of vitality and character then I am. If you stay active and keep a good sense of humour, then I'm not sure you ever become "elderly".

If you're still working then that's fantastic, but it shouldn't make any difference to whether or not you get a special seat on buses. I give up my seat to anyone - 9 or 90 - just because I think it's rude not to.

Answer 3

I'm 55 and the older I get the the more the age moves, I would have considered elderly to be my age when I was in my teens, now that I am a little older 80 seems about right. You may have to ask me again when I'm 70, I may then say 90. You deserve all you get and more, the elderly are not very well looked after by the state which I think is a disgrace !

Answer 4

Elderly to me sounds like someone who's losing their mobility and probably their marbles too. So I guess that can happen at any time, but probably becomes more likely, on average once you hit - oh, I don't know, about 75? (Does that show my youth - I'm 35?) Though my old piano teacher was only finally and semi-forcefully retired from school at 84. And my mum was denoted an 'elderly mother' when she had a child at the age of 41.

And no, if you're in possession of all your faculties, and working of course you don't deserve a special seat on the buses!

Answer 5

I don't think there is a specific age. I would say it would be over 60 at the youngest. I see people who might be younger than that but appear elderly and there are people in their 70s and 80s who I wouldn't consider elderly. I don't think old people deserve special treatment just for being old. I mean, there are plenty of people worse off than a lot of the "old" people I know. I don't mind giving up my seat on a bus if I can for someone who was struggling to walk but, when I am struggling on the bus, I find it very frustrating that old women in particular decide that the front "wheelchair/pushchair" seats should be theirs if they want them to put their annoying granny trolleys there. I wouldn't mind so much if they have something in their trolleys but half the time, they don't! And then, round here, don;t know about other places, old people are free on the bus. I mean, I would have thuoght that is privelege enough without expecting to have first choice of seats over those people who have to pay the ridiculous prices of bus far.

Answer 6

I do not consider you elderly. But you are at the age where that sort of respect is required. I think you deserve a special seat on the bus. My mom is 67 and I would EXPECT someone to get up, and let my mother sit on the bus. I'm 28 years old. I have full respect for my elders.

Answer 7

Elderly is a state of mind and an attitude.
My mum did not become elderly till she was 78.
In society today there always seems to be a need to draw demarcation lines so it is 65 and over so yes, you deserve a special seat on the bus.
I am 50.

Answer 8

You don't deserve a special seat on a bus for being elderly, but it does give you the option if your back aches. Personally, I think that anyone who needs a seat specially should get it, not those who don't.
Once I was on a bus. The driver said he wouldn't drive unless I got a seat. I was over 9 months pregnant, very big, but fit as a fiddle. It was very embarrassing. No one moved, they all pretended to be deaf, until finally this little very old lady got up and gave me her seat. I feel ashamed to say I took it, and then the driver drove off. I have to say that the whole thing was ridiculous.

Answer 9

I think 80 is elderly. I think that teenagers and 20/30 somethings should give up their seats to people aged 50 plus as a mark of respect anyway! I am 33 and 11/12 ths!

Answer 10

HA! Damn right, if you can get it, take it!

Normally, most people consider anyone 15 years their senior to be elderly.
So, following that logic, me being 47, someone 62 years old seems elderly to me because i can't comprehend what it's like to be 62 years old.

Someone 32 more than likely considers me to be elderly for much the same reason, they just can't understand.

At the same time, I'm sure you know that, "age" is as much a state of mind as physical chronology.
My grandmother is much "younger" than most of the old farts I work with and a whole hell of a lot more fun.

If you want that seat on the bus speak up and tell that snot-nosed brat to get up and let a senior citizen set down! Kids today have absloutly no manners taught to them.