How Old is Old Age?

Old age can be defined as the latter part of human life. Some would define it as beginning with the deterioration of physical abilities or by definition at a certain age.

Which is accurate?

Is old age defined by age or does it depend on the individual’s mindset or physical well-being? Is calendar age synonymous with biological age?

Are we old once we decide to retire?

Is old age something that the individual decides or is it something that is thrust upon those in a certain age bracket? For a topic that is occupying the attention of so many, the very definition of old age seems somewhat uncertain.

Age or Physical Decline

The reality of course is that old age means different things to different people and is defined differently by various cultures. The ageing process is an undeniable dynamic biological reality. However, it is also subject to the constructions by which each society makes sense of old age.

In the developed world, age 60 or 65, roughly equivalent to retirement ages could be considered the beginning of old age when people are entitled to statutory and occupational retirementpensions. In contrast in many parts of the developing world, chronological time has little or no importance in the meaning of old age and it is physical decline which is significant in defining old age.

"The ageing process is of course a biological reality which has its own dynamic, largely beyond human control. However, it is also subject to the constructions by which each society makes sense of old age. In the developed world, chronological time plays a paramount role. The age of 60 or 65, roughly equivalent to retirement ages in most developed countries is said to be the beginning of old age. In many parts of the developing world, chronological time has little or no importance in the meaning of old age. Other socially constructed meanings of age are more significant such as the roles assigned to older people; in some cases it is the loss of roles accompanying physical decline which is significant in defining old age. Thus, in contrast to the chronological milestones which mark life stages in the developed world, old age in many developing countries is seen to begin at the point when active contribution is no longer possible." (Gorman, 2000)

Stages of Ageing

Rather than categorizing everyone past a certain age as old, some social gerontologists make a distinction between the young-old (ages fifty-five to seventy-four) and the old-old (ages seventy-five and older). Other gerontologists add a middle-old category between the young-old and the old-old categories.

However the aged are categorized, aging is a highly individual experience. Chronological age may differ considerably from a person’s functional age, and age-related changes occur at different rates for different persons. Age-related changes don’t begin at the same time nor do they all occur simultaneously.

Generally, however, it can be said, that: Age-related changes within any one individual can differ greatly. Age-related changes differ greatly from one individual to another in the same manner as each person differs from one another while moving from infancy to maturity. No sharp differences occur either physically or psychologically when a person reaches 65 years of age.

Some impairments and deficiencies do occur as a person ages, but the person often finds ways of adjusting and compensating.

Finally

A 2009 survey from the Pew Research Center showed that the older people become, the younger they feel and the more likely they are to see “old age” as a time occurring later in life. Most U.S. adults over age 50 feel at least 10 years younger than their actual age, the survey found. One-third of those between 65 and 74 said they felt 10 to 19 years younger, and one-sixth of people 75 and older said they felt 20 years younger.

On average, survey respondents said old age begins at 68. But few people over 65 agreed; they said old age begins at 75. Respondents under 30 said 60 marks the beginning of old age It seems that old age is always a little older than you are.