Psychologists have defined old age as a fundamental change in a person’s life, when there is a sharp decline in physical and mental strength. It usually happened around the age of 65. Of course, as with everything, there were considerable differences between individuals.
However, old age seems to be coming later and later – at least from society’s point of view. While at the end of the last century people considered those who were 62 years old to be old, today people from 69 years old are considered old. This follows from a new survey of more than two thousand Britons. The survey was carried out by Seven Seas, which asked British adults when they think aging really begins.
“While we may be pushing the concept of old age to an older age, the data suggests that many of us are still putting off the habits that help us age well. And if 69 really is the new ‘old,’ then the time to start looking after our future health isn’t coming later, it’s now.” said Donna Bartoli.
The survey also reveals differences between generations. While the baby boom generation considers old age to start at around 67, Generation Z moves it lower, to around 62. According to younger respondents, the decline in cognitive abilities begins as early as age 62 and problems with technology around age 59.
Katherine Crawshaw of the Age Without Limits campaign raised concerns about ageing. “We often see that people have anxieties about reaching a certain age from fairly early adulthood. But once they reach those milestones, many of them have some of that anxiety.” The survey also found that stereotypes about old age are still strong. Among the most common labels of older people are, for example, “boarded up” or “beyond the zenith”.
