Monday, October 18, 2010

A Senior Moment: When do you become 'old' ?

By LESLIE HOWARD
Posted: 10/16/2010 01:17:37 AM PDT

A lively exchange in the "Tell It to the E-R" column caught my attention. An E-R article had referred to a 67-year-old as "elderly," and several Tell It callers took exception.
Quipped one, "I am an active 83-year-old woman and I was amused by your reference to a 68-year-old as an elderly man. Heck, I've got underwear older than that." Another responder complained that the preferred term was "senior," not "elderly." A third announced that "Elderly is (and always will be) someone 20 years older than me."
The federal government may use 65 as the qualifying age for Medicare or Social Security, but in day-to-day life, "senior" does not have a clear-cut definition. An invitation to join AARP, the Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons, shocks many 50-year-olds. Others are pleased to take advantage of senior discounts and specially priced menus for ages 55 and older at restaurants such as Denny's, Jack's and Kalico Kitchen. At 60, some see a movie at the Pageant Theatre for a special price or take classes through Osher Lifelong Learning Institute or Elder College at Chico State University. Continue readinghttp://www.chicoer.com/ci_16355320?source=rss

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