Typically, the elderly has been defined as the chronological age of 65 or older. People from 65 to 74 years old are usually considered early elderly, while those over 75 years old are referred to as late elderly.
For example, Katie Hill, M.D., CMO of Nudj Health, and board-certified psychiatrist says most people consider middle age to occur between the ages of 46 and 65 while some other health experts even believe that middle age spans from 40-60 (give or take 10 years).
In America, one researcher found that you are considered old at 70 to 71 years of age for men and 73 to 73 for women.
What to expect: As we continue to age, we may be concerned about losing cognitive function. It may be harder to learn new tasks, recall information or keep track of everyday household items. That's normal as our brain grows older. The brain changes caused by Alzheimer's disease, however, are not a normal part of aging.
The American Geriatric Society and the World Health Organization define the oldest-old as individuals aged over 80 years, while the British Geriatrics Society uses 85 years as a threshold. In recent publications, the cut off was fixed at 85 or 90 years and over [1,2,3].
However, with many people working later in life, in Australia the definition has changed to indicate someone around the age of 75 – 80. The World Health Organisation suggests that most developed world countries characterise old age starting at 60 years and above.
For statistical and public administrative purposes, however, old age is frequently defined as 60 or 65 years of age or older. Old age has a dual definition. It is the last stage in the life processes of an individual, and it is an age group or generation comprising a segment of the oldest members of a population.
Middle Age Adult = 40-59 yrs. Senior Adult = 60+
Age Periods during Late Adulthood
In this chapter, we will be dividing the stage into four age periods: Young–old (60-74), old-old (75-84), the oldest-old (85-99), and centenarians (100+). These categories are based on the conceptions of aging including, biological, psychological, social, and chronological differences.
Bathing once or twice a week is acceptable for older adults, as the purpose is to prevent the skin from breaking down and lower the risk of skin infections. Seniors also tend to be less active than younger adults, so they can get away with fewer baths.
Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as all adults—7 to 9 hours each night. But, older people tend to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier than they did when they were younger. There are many reasons why older people may not get enough sleep at night.
People's health in their 70s varies a lot. Some people are completely healthy while others have multiple illnesses. No matter what your condition, there is a lot you can do to improve your health, prevent illnesses, and keep your brain sharp.
Unlike some myths suggest, sex isn't just for the young. Many seniors still enjoy their sexuality into their 80s and beyond. A healthy sex life is both fulfilling and good for other parts of your life too — such as your physical health and self-esteem.
What “70 is the new 50” actually means today, is that if you're 70, you have at least another 12 years to work before you can retire. AARP formerly stood for the American Association of Retired Persons. Presumably they decided that was too long for folks to remember, so they officially changed it to just the acronym.
The United States' older adult population can thus, be divided into three life-stage subgroups: the young-old (approximately 65 to 74 years old), the middle-old (ages 75 to 84 years old), and the old-old (over age 85).
The major cause of death in the 55-64 age group is cancer followed by heart disease and injury. In the 75+ age group, the leading cause shifts to heart disease, and injury drops below Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cerebrovascular diseases, and pneumonia.
From the details they gave, the scientists were able to work out how much different habits and lifestyle factors affected their lifespan. Yates estimates that a 70-year-old man has a 54% chance of reaching the age of 90 if he does not smoke or have diabetes, has healthy weight and blood pressure, and exercises.
The study, supported by the American Insurance Group, found that, on average, a 75-year-old American woman with no chronic conditions will live 17.3 additional years (that's to more than 92 years old).
Adulthood is the period from the time after we transition from school and childhood years through the time when we enter our golden years. For most of us, adulthood is the longest stage of life.
For example, the team suggests that the biological aging process isn't steady and appears to accelerate periodically — with the greatest bursts coming, on average, around ages 34, 60, and 78.
With age, your skin thins and becomes less elastic and more fragile, and fatty tissue just below the skin decreases. You might notice that you bruise more easily. Decreased production of natural oils might make your skin drier. Wrinkles, age spots and small growths called skin tags are more common.
Greater sense of acceptance of self and of others; desire for connection and the means to create it; life experiences that help us make smart decisions; wisdom and empathy—all are available to us as we grow older. And don't forget gratitude.