how old should you be to be called a "senior citizen?"?

Question

AARP seems to say "when you are 50..."
Social Security seems to say "when you are 65..."

Really, what is it? I am 55.

Answer 1

Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle. Euphemisms and terms for older people include seniors — chiefly an American usage — or elderly. Some believe there to be prejudice against older people in Western cultures, which is one form of ageism.

Older people have limited regenerative abilities and are more prone to disease, syndromes, and sickness than other adults. For the biology of ageing, see Senescence. The medical study of the aging process is gerontology, and the study of diseases that afflict the elderly is geriatrics.
The boundary between middle age and old age cannot be defined exactly because it does not have the same meaning in all societies. In many parts of the world, people are considered old because of certain changes in their activities or social roles. Examples: people may be considered old when they become grandparents, or when they begin to do less or different work — retirement. In the United States and Europe, people are often considered old if they have lived a certain number of years.

Many Americans think of 65 as the beginning of old age because United States workers become eligible at this time to retire with full Social Security benefits at age 65. People in the 65-and-over age group are often called senior citizens. In 2003, the age at which an American citizen becomes eligible for full Social Security benefits began to increase gradually until it reaches 67 in 2027.

There are many stereotypes about elderly people, such as; the use of walking sticks, frequent doctor visits, and sleeping a lot. These can be seen however to be untrue and very judgmental, most old people are very capable of easy mobility and caring for themselves, however there are some illnesses that can be seen to come with old age.

Worldwide, the number of people 65 or older is increasing faster than ever before. Most of this increase is occurring in developed countries. In the United States the percentage of people 65 or older increased from 4 percent in 1900 to about 13 percent in the late 1990s. In 1900, only about 3 million of the nation's citizens had reached 65. By 1998, the number of senior citizens had increased to about 34 million. Population experts estimate that more than 50 million Americans — about 17 percent of the population — will be 65 or older in 2020. The number of old people is growing around the world chiefly because more children reach adulthood.

In most parts of the world, women live, on average, longer than men. In the United States in the late 1990s, life expectancy at birth was 80 years for women and 77 years for men. American women who were age 65 in the late 1990s could expect to live about 19 additional years. Men who were 65 could expect to live about 16 additional years.

Answer 2

It can be 55 at movie theaters and restaurants.
You're right AARP calls you a senior at 50.
You can collect Social Security at 62.

You are what you think you are. Everybody has an age bracket and that's about the best answer you'll ever get. It's not set in stone; it's different for every part of our life.

Answer 3

Actually, a senior citizen is someone who is 65, even though AARP lets you join them when you are 50. I joined AARP, but haven't done anything with them. I figured it didn't hurt to get a head start, though it sure made me feel old when I joined.

Hmmmm, I have used their AARP discount at hotels, so they have been beneficial.

When you are 65, you'll be eligible for the senior's discount in restaurants! Won't that be nice?

Answer 4

I'm 52 and have AARP auto insurance. It did save me quite a bit.
To answer your question I think it would be when you draw SS at 65. But as baby-boomers where else do we fit in?
I love it here and can relate to most questions so I feel at home.
I hope you stay, it's a great place!

Answer 5

I believe a Senior Citizen is 65+ in my opinion.

Answer 6

I think 65 is technically a senior citizen. I think once you hit 70 is when people begin to actually think of you as a true senior citizen.

Answer 7

I think 55 just for the term..but for different business and government purposes I think they just use 65

Answer 8

called senior citizen

Answer 9

When you reach retirement age and over, and when you are allowed the discounts given for senior citizens. That makes Young Uncle a senior citizen too. Yeah.

Answer 10

I'm 56 and you're 55 so technically we're still boomers. Ask my bones and joints, and they'll say senior. Ask the young chick in my head that sings "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and makes me dance around to any good music I hear, and she'll say NEITHER!