Is the term "SENIORS" overused and condescending?

[MsLeFever]

My father (69) referred to himself as an old man recently (when talking to my son). "Hey! Look at the old man on the swing" My son looked around and said "where?" Clearly he doesn't think of him as "old"!

Of course he does think that 16 year olds are "adults"!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

How else are people supposed to refer to folks about a certain age? Extra-mature adults?

No, because some are sure not that.

The thing that makes me laugh is when someone refers to a person who is 60 as a senior. Just because AARP allows members to join when they are 50yo doesn't mean that they are seniors. My mother is 82yo--that is senior. But my sister who is 62, who rides Dueling Dragons and Tower of Terror, who can keep up with me at WDW, if not outwalk me, who has traveled all over the world in the last few years (China, Australia, Egypt, Africa, Thailand) is hardly a senior.

Maybe when I was 20yo I thought that 62 was old, but the older I get the younger that is!

 

[justhat]

I asked my mom about that and this is what she told me, "They can call me whatever they want as long as I get a discount. And I like it better than someone referring to me as OLD or ELDERLY." I'd say she was a feisty old broad but if she found out about it, she'd smack me.

My mom said this too! She was thrilled when she turned 60 this past September as now she gets discounts. She in no way fits the 'senior model' at her age, but as long as there is a special rate for her that's all she cares about.

 

[bicker]

The fact is that there often is a legitimate need to refer to this group of people, in some manner short than three or four sentences. While the word may change over time, elderly, to senior citizen, to senior, there must always be a polite term to refer to these folks, as long as they constitute a significantly separate community and/or market.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I don't think that my sister minds it too much when it's coupled with the word "discount". I've also seen people on the DIS refer to a 60yo relative as "elderly". Again, calling my 82yo mom elderly is fine, but 60yo?

 

[SueM in MN]

I've also seen people on the DIS refer to a 60yo relative as "elderly". Again, calling my 82yo mom elderly is fine, but 60yo?

I saw one recently where they were referring to 62 and 63 yo parents as elderly and wanting special hints for travel with them. I have a feeling the "elderly parents" probably didn't need a lot of special hints. (and probably would not be too happy too be "elderly").

 

[Mackey Mouse]

How about "retirees?" I am not going to go quietly into my later years. I believe age is a state of mind and if you stay active physically and mentally...you can be a vital part of your community and live a healthy life...I am not one for labels...probably because I could be considered "the name that will not mentioned by me."

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I saw one recently where they were referring to 62 and 63 yo parents as elderly and wanting special hints for travel with them. I have a feeling the "elderly parents" probably didn't need a lot of special hints. (and probably would not be too happy too be "elderly").

Exactly! Funny to me since my sister is that age and she outlasts me at WDW. She wants to go commando all the time and isn't happy going to the parks in the morning and hanging out at the resort in the afternoon. I'm exhausted after I vacation with her. My family went to the beach this summer with her and her DH and I didn't feel that we had enough time to hang around at the beach, we were always going somewhere. Elderly my foot! And I don't mean the foot in my signature...

 

[justhat]

T&B, my mom is the same way. Even on our Christmas/NYE trip when my mom was in between chemo and radiation she was going all day long. But I guess since there's no discount at Disney, no need to act 'senior'!

 

[buckylarue]

Coot, Biddie, Fogey, Codger, Geezer....

Not too many acceptable alternatives I can think of, although I don't care what you call me as long as I get a discount!

Maybe 'persons of extended life experience'???