What Age Is Legally Considered Elderly?

The elderlies are a crucial part of the US population. They make up approximately 15% of the entire population, and future trends show that this number could go up to 24% by 2060.

According to the US government, people who have reached the age of 65 or above are considered elderly. (Sixty-Five Plus)

What age is considered elderly in the United States?

According to Wikipedia, old age refers to “ages nearing or surpassing the life expectancy of human beings, and is thus the end of the human life cycle.” (Old Age)

Getting white hair or having a wrinkled face is not a prerequisite for being old and called the elderly. Likewise, the elderly are not necessarily those who’re diseased or bedridden but individuals who have reached a particular chronological age.

Life’s stages are divided into several phases. When a baby is born, he enters the phase of infancy. As he grows up, he goes through stages of childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. While ‘old age’ is a loose term that applies to everyone above the age of 55 or 60 (sometimes even lower), it is not essentially what you would call an elderly stage.

In the United States, an elderly person is defined as someone who has reached the chronological age of 65 years old. The stage is further divided into two sections; those that lie between the ages of 65 to 74 years old called the early elderly, and those that are over the age of 75 years who are referred to as late elderly. (Reviewing the definition)

The elderly are also sometimes called seniors, senior citizens, older adults, elders, or aging individuals. While diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, strokes, hypertension, and type 2-diabetes are common in older people, the elderly aren’t always inflicted with diseases.

So, an individual will be called elderly if he has reached the chronological age of 65 years whether or not he faces physical or psychological restrictions. On the other hand, someone who has dementia cannot be called ‘old’ or ‘aging’ simply because they aren’t able to function optimally.

The growth of the elderly population

In the 20th century, the number of US citizens under the age of 65 had gone up three times. However, at the same time, the number of people aged 65 or above has jumped up by a factor of 11. While there was just 1 elderly person in every 25 Americans in 1900, the number went up to 1 in 8 individuals in 1994.

One of the reasons, why this is so, is because of declining fertility and mortality rates. Trends show that there has also been a sharp rise in the median age of the American population where it was 20 years old in 1860, and went up to 34 years in 1994.

The Census Bureau runs the ‘middle series’ projections after every few years, and according to the latest reports, the elderly population will increase in number by up to two times between now and 2050. By that time, 1 in 5 Americans will be elderly. According to the report, most of this growth will happen between 2010 and 2030 because this will also be when the ‘baby boomer’ generation enters their old age. (The Census Bureau)

The global life expectancy has gone up from 65.3 years in 1990 to 71.5 years in 2013. Medical advancements and technologies have made it possible for you to live longer than your ancestors could have imagined a few hundred years ago.

What is considered old age for a man and a woman?

Statistically speaking, men and women are considered old when they reach the 60 to 65 age group. While the life expectancy was 40 in the 1920s, it has gone up to 70 in recent years.

Men and women age differently. According to the World Health Organization, their growth depends on their mind, body, spirituality as well as their emotional capacity. It depends on the society, their individual habits, and personal habits like smoking and alcohol consumption, their access to medical facilities, and their working conditions. (Gender, equality)

Puberty is one of the most pivotal stages of a young adult’s life. While girls begin this journey between the ages of 10 to 14, boys enter this stage a little later. Typically, puberty hits boys when they are 12 to 16 years of age.

While both men and women make it past the 100-year mark, the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation claims that women are more likely to cross that line as compared to men. The reason for this is because while men live to an average age of 76, most women cross the average age of 80 and die somewhere between 81-82 years. However, while women do live a little longer, the quality of life for men is better than their counterparts. (Life expectancy)

What age is considered elderly medically?

The process of aging is referred to as senescence. Medically speaking, an individual is called an elderly if he has reached 65 years of age. At this age, the medical treatment of the elderly, also known as geriatrics, can begin.

The reason why geriatrics is differentiated from other forms of medical care is that of the unique demands of the elderly. Geriatric medicine focuses on the health of old people and promotes their health by preventing and treating diseases that are commonly found in that particular age. While there is no set age at which a patient may come under the care of a geriatric physician, 60-65 years is the standard patient age.

A geriatrician is a doctor who specializes in the care and treatment of the elderly. However, you must remember that geriatrics is different from gerontology because the latter term refers to the study of the aging process.

What are the signs of old age?

Physical signs of aging like wrinkles, thinning hair, and a bad posture can be improved. While medical technology is also available for other symptoms of aging, it is imperative that you learn how to identify the signs. Remember, while some signs are a normal part of the aging process, others need instant attention and care.

So, to make it easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of signs you should look out for:

• Eyesight problems: By the age of 40, most people will be reaching out for their eyeglasses. For seniors who have reached the 60-year mark, you may develop a cataract, which is where your lens clouds up and affects your vision. A cataract isn’t a serious problem but shouldn’t be ignored in the long run.
• Memory-related issues: You might not be able to remember the birthdays of your grandchildren as you did your friends’ 30 or 40 years ago. While minor memory-related issues are common in aging adults, more serious gaps or forgetfulness should be taken seriously.
• Decreased immunity: Another normal sign of aging is decreased immunity. You’ll be more susceptible to infections, and while you will need to watch out for serious complications like pneumonia, it’s usually not a cause of concern.
• Hearing problems: Are you starting to ask your relatives to speak a little louder when they’re talking to you? Worried you may be heading towards hearing loss? Unless someone needs to speak directly into your ears for you to hear them, you shouldn’t stress. Hearing issues are common in aging and are a normal sign of the process.
• Incontinence: Urine incontinence occurs in 10% of people aged 65 and above. Most people report leaking a little when they sneeze or cough. However, if you’re losing large amounts before you get to the bathroom, you might want to look into going to a doctor and try a treatment to reduce or completely eliminate the problem. (Prevalence and Trends)

Other symptoms such as brittle bones, teeth and gum problems, sagging skin, and reduced sex drive can also be signs of aging.

What illnesses are common in old age?

Now that we have discussed the common signs of aging, let’s look into some of the more serious conditions you should get looked at.
The following are some of the common illnesses of old age that shouldn’t be ignored:

1. Alzheimer’s: According to the CDC, 92,604 seniors over the age of 65 died because of Alzheimer’s disease. While dementia has many other forms, Alzheimer’s is the most common disease in which patients suffer from severe memory loss. However, even though reports show that 1 in 10 people, aged 65 and above, has Alzheimer’s, there are a lot of other cases that go unreported. The reason for this is because most caregivers think that memory loss is a common sign of aging. (Promoting Health) (Facts and Figures)
2. Arthritis: One of the most common alignments that the elderly experience is arthritis. As per the CDC, this affects 49.7% of all adults over 65, which can lead to severe pain and lower the quality of life as a result. Even though arthritis isn’t a life-threatening disease, it can hamper your daily routine. To ease pain and alleviate related symptoms, you can try exercises and a personalized activity plan after consulting your doctor. (Arthritis – Related)
3. Heart disease: Coronary problems or heart diseases remain the #1 reason why people aged over 65 die each year. It is a chronic condition, which affects 37% of men and 26% women over 65 years. High blood pressure and cholesterol can lead to stroke and heart attacks, and this is why it is recommended that seniors take care of the health of their heart.

Senior health concerns are all but limited to these three. While they are some of the most common causes of death in elders, other diseases like cancer, respiratory issues, diabetes, osteoporosis, and obesity are also parts of the problem.

How do you stay healthy in old age?

Unless you’ve discovered the elixir of life, you can’t stay young and healthy till the end of time. However, what you can do is to stay healthy and fit even when you’re aging.

The following tips will help you enjoy your aging process and allow you to have a more positive outlook:

• Eat right: We’ve heard it throughout our lifetimes. It was stressed by our mothers when we were young and suggested by our doctors when we entered our middle ages. But while young people can get away with eating processed unhealthy food, its effects will be more pronounced on the elderly. So, live clean and eat organic foods that help improve your health rather than diminish it.
• Exercise: Again, if you haven’t been to the gym your entire life, it’s time you took up some light exercise or a quick stroll in the park. Brisk walking and other exercises are recommended for seniors because they don’t just help your heart pump faster but also get rid of toxins from your body. It fights obesity.
• Sleep well: Some people swear by sleep as a reason for their feeling topnotch. Avoid caffeine during the evening, and let go of all the distractions when you’re trying to sleep. Remember, there’s a link between sleeping and dementia, too, so you may avoid those memory-related issues while you sleep! (Dementia and Sleep)

Other than these three important tips to stay healthy, you also need social activity.

Don’t let loneliness take over your life because this will only lead to depression.

Also, remember to go on routine checkups to your physician, and take all your prescribed medications on time.

Related questions

1. Is “elderly” politically correct?

While most medical journals use the terms “older adult” or “elderly,” there is a difference in what is preferred and what is not depending on the platform where it is used. Media platforms would rather use the word “senior” or “older adult.” “Elderly” is no longer considered appropriate. It doesn’t sound politically correct.

2. What age is middle age for a man?

As per the Oxford English Dictionary, a middle-aged man is he who is aged between 45 and 65.

3. What is the average age for male menopause?

The average age for male menopause is 50 years and older. Also known as andropause, it happens because of a drop in testosterone levels.