Shard

What age is 'old'?

Last night, watching TV and the presenter introducing an Elgar concerto made the passing comment "he was an old man in his early 60's when he composed it"...WTF!

Is that still considered old? I'll be there in under a decade and I do not want to be old. This presenter himself looked late 30's, if he was 20 it might be an understandable comment.

Anyway, I nominate 70 as the start of old .

spouse of scouse

The concept of 'old' has been the same for me throughout my life.
20 years older than me is old.

Dave+Jules

Having reached the grand old age of sixty I can tell you that old moves out by another 15 years (at this age).
I had a shock last week when going to watch a movie and the teller asked me if I had a seniors card I said "NO I DON'T" - cheeky young pup I could hear Jules behind me chuckling to herself (being younger than me and still having dark hair without chemical aids)

Shard

Yeah it's little things like that. Occasionally finding that a receptionist or retail clerk is speaking to you slightly too reverentially, and realising that it's because of age rather than something else.

I haven't ever been offered a seat on crowded public transport, but I have occasionally taken one knowing that I will probably be given the benefit of the doubt.

Dorothy

I get offered seats on public transport pretty regularly now. I'm not that old yet, either at only 55! Guess it doesn't help that on days when my knees are playing up I use a stick

BristolUK

For someone born when he was, life expectancy was much younger from what I just googled. Perhaps it should be linked to that.

I get a 55+ discount on Wednesdays at a pharmacy chain. Particularly useful for diabetic supplies as I save $24 off the $120 for every 100 needles/strips.

Every time I find some way to mention the discount to make sure it's included and every time it's already done. They presumed.
Last time I didn't bother mentioning it and discovered later they'd not done it. So back to mentioning it again. Maybe I should be happy that they don't always assume I'm old enough.

I've aged a lot over the last three years in terms of how I feel but I still feel I scrub up quite well.

Shard

I was listening to Jim Carrey on Bill Maher the other day, and he was saying when he was in Canada (Ontario) there was no need to pay for subscriptions? Is that right in Ontario?

BristolUK

Subscriptions? Playboy or something?
Assuming you mean prescriptions it would be interesting to discover how he has that idea.

Siouxie

If he meant prescriptions - well you don't pay for the doctor to WRITE it, lol.
There was an announcement that prescription charges would be dropped for the over 65's from August 2019 - but not sure if it made it to law. Once you hit 65 you may be able to get help with prescription drugs under the Ontario Drug Benefit - https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-cove...cription-drugs

I think age is just a number - but the mindset is something different. I knew people in their 50's that were 'old' - and people in their 70's who have more get up and go and look better than others in their 50's!

caretaker

He probably meant vaccinations.
I'd bet just about anything that Jim Carrey has health insurance. I don't have to pay for mine either.

Shard

Damn autocorrect.

Shard

It is just a number, for sure. Just can be slightly annoying when the youngsters don't fully realise that.

plasticcanuck

spouse of scouse

I've just turned 60 - had a minor day procedure in hospital and as I was discharged, the nurse handed me a leaflet about falls prevention for the elderly. The bloody cheek of her!!

Snowy560

The big Q to my mind is why there is such negativity abould growing older. It's the one "difference" all of us get to experience yet we are all trying to be/act younger and take it as a compliment if someone thinks we are younger. I studied this for many years and wrote quite a lot about it.