How old is "old"
Discussion
On another thread, someone was lamenting that Geoffrey from Rainbow has died aged 76 and inferred he'd died young.
To me, 76 is doing OK when you think about it but people live a lot longer than they used to so maybe it isn't.
How old do you consider is a reasonable age to die of something age-related?
Personally; I think if I get to 80 or so, then I've done alright and only under 70 would be classed as "dying young"
To me, 76 is doing OK when you think about it but people live a lot longer than they used to so maybe it isn't.
How old do you consider is a reasonable age to die of something age-related?
Personally; I think if I get to 80 or so, then I've done alright and only under 70 would be classed as "dying young"
k that, only 18 years left for me then. 
You have got to make use of the time you have, I know a few people into their late 60s and early 70s who still act like they are 30. (in respect of their life expectancy). They just wont accept they probably have 10-15 years left and just get on and enjoy your life.
I appreciate it is not an easy subject to discuss but I regularly hear people say "well I might make it to 100"... erm no you wont. >99% of people die before they are 100. My parents (71) have finally taken this on board and started to enjoy their remaining years after bleating on the last 10 years about kids being left money and might live till 100 bla bla then a heart attack comes along and suddenly their attitude changes (for the better IMHO).
I appreciate it is not an easy subject to discuss but I regularly hear people say "well I might make it to 100"... erm no you wont. >99% of people die before they are 100. My parents (71) have finally taken this on board and started to enjoy their remaining years after bleating on the last 10 years about kids being left money and might live till 100 bla bla then a heart attack comes along and suddenly their attitude changes (for the better IMHO).
I was pondering that myself. Kind of hoped I'd make it into my 80's but then nearly every celebrity death on the news seems to be early to mid seventies. I know cancer and the likes isn't particularly choosy about who it gets but you think with presumably the best (private) healthcare available to you then you'd have a better chance? Perhaps not.
I tend to come across a lot of old people through work so I can say there are these groups
1) the ones living it up like they are 30. Suprisingly I have come across many 80 year olds who really only look 60.
2) the ones who have lost a partner and live alone and may or may not struggle through on their own but still medically OK
3) those with serious medical problems who have a poor quality of life
To my mind if you can make it to 70 you have made a good innings - I suspect by the time you go past 60 the chances of getting serious medical problems increases quite a lot so I think in terms of odd making it to 70 is pretty good if you are in good health.
Yes we can all live to 95 but for many of us in the current generation are we going to be able to enjoy life in the same way we do now? I am not sure.
1) the ones living it up like they are 30. Suprisingly I have come across many 80 year olds who really only look 60.
2) the ones who have lost a partner and live alone and may or may not struggle through on their own but still medically OK
3) those with serious medical problems who have a poor quality of life
To my mind if you can make it to 70 you have made a good innings - I suspect by the time you go past 60 the chances of getting serious medical problems increases quite a lot so I think in terms of odd making it to 70 is pretty good if you are in good health.
Yes we can all live to 95 but for many of us in the current generation are we going to be able to enjoy life in the same way we do now? I am not sure.
My father's 85.
He was fit and healthy until about five years ago, but then he started getting old quite quickly. Up 'til then many put him at five or ten years younger than his years but he's since developed carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and age-related macular degeneration. It's put years/decades on him.
His mind is still pretty sharp, but his physical condition is debilitating.
So, in answer to OP - 80+ is old.
23 years left for me then.
He was fit and healthy until about five years ago, but then he started getting old quite quickly. Up 'til then many put him at five or ten years younger than his years but he's since developed carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and age-related macular degeneration. It's put years/decades on him.
His mind is still pretty sharp, but his physical condition is debilitating.
So, in answer to OP - 80+ is old.
23 years left for me then.
Mojooo said:
Yes we can all live to 95 but for many of us in the current generation are we going to be able to enjoy life in the same way we do now? I am not sure.
But if you live to 95, the chances are that you will be relatively active and healthy until you are about 90. As life expectancy increases so does the amount of "enjoyable" life you have
Met a gent this morning who was 90 and still going strong. No mobility problems, mind very switched on, keeps busy. He looked about 80. He told me he had a lot of cancer 20-30 years ago but since beating that he has been fine.
Paradoxically I think if you get past 75 with no major health issues your chances of going to 85-90 are quite good. Lots of people die in their 60s and early 70s. I hope I'm not one of them. I could quite handle pottering about town, getting involved and keeping myself busy at 90...
I'm only 41 but I do see a lot of it as I am in the elderly care sector. We have few clients in their 70s, most are 85+
Paradoxically I think if you get past 75 with no major health issues your chances of going to 85-90 are quite good. Lots of people die in their 60s and early 70s. I hope I'm not one of them. I could quite handle pottering about town, getting involved and keeping myself busy at 90...
I'm only 41 but I do see a lot of it as I am in the elderly care sector. We have few clients in their 70s, most are 85+
Well, when you're not able to do the things you really want to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKDrOWdxLQo
Oh, gymnastics not your thing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt6SEkGuigs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKDrOWdxLQo
Oh, gymnastics not your thing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt6SEkGuigs
My father will be 79 this year. His legs in particular have really declined over the last couple of years. Seven or so years ago, he was happily playing horsey and giving our youngest rides around the lounge on all fours. Nowadays, he can't walk far at all without a stick.
On the other hand, my wife has a friend whom she met working in a gym who is in his mid nineties and still going to the gym 2-3 times per week.
We also used to have a neighbour in France who worked on her farm into her nineties and was as fit as anything. Retired, went to pieces and died within a couple of years.
It seems to be that once the decline sets in, it's very rapid.
On the other hand, my wife has a friend whom she met working in a gym who is in his mid nineties and still going to the gym 2-3 times per week.
We also used to have a neighbour in France who worked on her farm into her nineties and was as fit as anything. Retired, went to pieces and died within a couple of years.
It seems to be that once the decline sets in, it's very rapid.
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