Incredible as it may seem, there is no agreement on a specific age for the onset of old age. Different organizations, both public and private, have different ages for the onset of old age.
As a way to better explain the above, we will see some examples in which the diversity of ages can be clearly seen, such as: eligibility for Medicare is 65 years (although in certain circumstances it may be earlier); for the senior pass for the national parks it is required to be 62 years old; for programs under the Older Americans Act, age 60; the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), 50 years!
Depending on the agency or organization involved, old age could begin at age 50, 60, 62, or 65. These are the ages when you could be considered an older adult. Although we know that whatever your chronological age, you feel 28 years old.
What’s more, presently, another concentrate by the U.S. Trust found that discernments about the beginning of advanced age change generally between various ages. Recent college grads, for instance, say you’re old once you turn 59. Age Xers, then again, take a somewhat more liberal view. Saying advanced age starts at 65.And now, another concentrate by the U.S. Trust found that discernments about the beginning of advanced age shift broadly between various ages. Recent college grads, for instance, say you’re old once you turn 59. Age Xers, then again, take a somewhat more liberal view, saying advanced age starts at 65. When it comes to boomers (born in the mid-40s) and the silent generation, both agree that you’re not really old until you’re 73.
The report defined millennials as those between the ages of 21 and 36. Generation X encompasses people ages 37 to 52, while boomers are ages 53 to 72, and the silent generation includes those 73 and older. Previous surveys have also asked people to reveal their perceptions about aging. In 2009, for example, a Pew Research Center report found that those under 30 believe old age comes before a person turns 60. Middle-aged respondents cited 70 as the start of old age, while over 65 years old brought the number closer to 74. But when does old age begin? At 68 that’s the average of all the responses from the 2,969 respondents.
AARP’s Disrupt Aging campaign asked a group of millennials to reveal how old they think they are. Then they were introduced to some people who were those ages. A video shows how millennials changed their perceptions after interacting with vibrant members of the older generation. They put aside their outdated beliefs and embraced the idea that getting older is not about decline.
Younger Hispanics point to 50 as a significant milestone
Other AARP research shows that although they feel society may limit people’s ability to live as they choose, bilingual and Spanish-proficient Hispanic Americans are optimistic about aging. In fact, the majority of Hispanic adult’s ages 35-55 surveyed have positive rather than negative feelings about turning 50:
- 70% feel that life has more meaning at 50
- 65% report that they feel reaching age 50 is an important milestone
- 57% feel that 50 is still young
This result is especially striking when comparing these respondents to non-Hispanic adults ages 35 to 55, who are significantly less likely to describe life as more meaningful at 50, to see turning 50 as an important milestone, or to describe themselves as themselves as feeling happy or optimistic about turning 50.
In particular, Hispanic adults ages 35-55 are more likely than non-Hispanics (63% vs. 45%) to say that getting older is more about what you’ve accomplished in life than it is about your age, and that turning 50 is a time to celebrate (76% vs. 55%).
In the end, it seems that everyone has their own idea of when a person steps on the threshold of old age. For me, and I’m not sure exactly what age we’re talking about. I became aware when I went to see a movie at a theater in New York. When I bought the box office or tickets, the girl who sold them, without asking, or asking for identification, He extended me a discounted senior’s locker. Apparently, as in quantum theory, it is the observer who establishes “reality”.
