Traditionally, old age was associated with the end of the human life cycle; you were old when you were nearing the end of your life. The problem with that definition of old age is that no one knows when they will die. People are also living much longer lives than they used to: When Social Security was established in 1935, the average life expectancy in the United States was 61 years. It's now closer to 79. Increased longevity is a global phenomenon, not just an American one.
According to a 2017 study published in The Lancet, life expectancy is expected to rise in all 35 developed countries, albeit at different rates. According to the study, women in South Korea will have an average life expectancy of more than 90 years by 2030. Researchers believe that the gains are primarily due to medical advances that allow people to live longer lives, rather than decreases in child mortality. So, if "old age" is defined by the average length of people's lives, what age is considered "elderly?" When does middle age come to an end and old age begin?
John Shoven, a Stanford economics professor, examined mortality rates for different age groups over time and proposed that "middle-aged" adults have a one percent chance of dying within the next 12 months or less. That means that today's American men will be considered middle-aged until they reach the age of 60 (up from around the age of 44 in 1920), and women will not leave middle age until they reach the age of 65. (considerably later than age 48, as in 1920). Similarly, Shoven proposed that an elderly definition include adults with a four percent or higher chance of dying within the next year. So, what is the definition of "elderly"?
According to Shoven's theory, elderly men are those over the age of 76, and elderly women are those over the age of 80. What is the definition of "old?" As you can see, there is no straightforward answer to that question. However, there are a few widely accepted definitions of old age: According to chronology, you reach old age when a certain number of years have passed since your birth. However, the precise number can vary greatly depending on the context.
As an example, Medicare benefits begin at the age of 65, many senior discounts are aimed at those between the ages of 55 and 60, and AARP begins accepting members at the age of 50.
By social role: You become old when your children reach adulthood, when you become a grandparent, or when you retire from paid work. In some rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, where a formal retirement age is meaningless, you are considered to have reached old age when you are unable to perform physically strenuous tasks and must instead take on a more managerial role in the household.
By physical or health status: You become old when your hair begins to grey, wrinkles appear, or you begin to experience physical frailty or mental decline. (As a result, the oft-repeated phrase, "You're only as old as you feel," comes to mind.) According to a study published in Geriatrics and Gerontology International, many Japanese people believe that the term "elderly" should be reserved for those who rely on others for daily functioning. Not surprisingly, everyone has different ideas about what old age is and when it begins.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, Americans aged 18 to 29 believe that a person becomes old at the age of 60, whereas those over 65 believe that a person does not become old until the age of 74. (It's worth noting that the same survey found that only 35% of people over the age of 75 felt old.) In addition, according to a survey conducted by PayingTooMuch.com of adults over the age of 40, the majority of them believed that old age began at the age of 80. Age Stereotypes' Positive and Negative Effects Loneliness, frailty, and decline are frequently associated with old age. It has also been described as a time of liberty, happiness, and affluence.
Every individual's experiences are distinct. However, such contemporary stereotypes about aging can have a significant impact on people's decisions and attitudes. They can even have an impact on people's physical and mental health. Negative aging stereotypes can be internalized by older adults who are constantly exposed to them and unconsciously make them come true.
As shown in a study published in the Journal of Geriatrics, seniors who were primed with words like "senile" and "incompetent" before taking memory tests performed worse than seniors who were primed with more positive words. Receiving negative subliminal age-related messages caused older adults' cardiovascular stress levels to rise both before and after mentally challenging activities such as math quizzes, according to another study. As found in research, seniors who have negative self-stereotypes about their age are less likely to agree to medical treatment that would extend their lives.
Negative age stereotypes, on the other hand, can motivate people to work hard to prevent those stereotypes from becoming true. According to a study published in Leisure Sciences, older athletes frequently express a desire to remain physically active in order to avoid becoming "old" (which they stereotypically define as frail or ill). In such cases, the stereotype can be beneficial to older adults.
Positive age stereotypes, it turns out, do not always have the desired effect. A study published in The Journals of Gerontology in 2012 of middle-aged (ages 36 to 60) and older adults (ages 61 and up) found that being exposed to positive age stereotypes made people feel older. Researchers hypothesized that this was because study participants perceived themselves to be younger than their chronological age, and being confronted with positive descriptions of aging caused them to perceive their own age more accurately.
Thus, both positive and negative stereotypes can have a variety of effects on people's behavior and health. In conclusion, As you can see, there is no hard and fast rule for determining when someone becomes a senior citizen. Similarly, there is no general agreement on what the various terminology means or implies.
So, what exactly does "old" mean? Finally, each of us must make our own decision.
Source: https://longevity.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Working-Longer-Post-Conference-Report-2017-final.pdf
