What qualifies a person as a senior citizen? Definitions of age are a shifting target. Some establishments provide senior discounts or memberships to those who have just turned 50, while social services such as Medicare are normally unavailable to anyone under the age of 65. So, when does a person reach the age of retirement? Where do you draw the line between middle age and old age?

When you reach a certain age, you are considered a senior citizen. Some individuals may consider themselves seniors when they retire from their jobs, sign up for Social Security, or start using their retirement funds, while others aren't quite ready to do so.

While there is no widely acknowledged age at which individuals become senior citizens, most Western industrialized countries consider 60 or 65 to be the start of old age. When most Americans retire, they become eligible for government support programs depending on their age.

Some of the most often used words to characterize elderly persons are listed below.

Senior

In general, the term "senior" is an excellent way to characterize an older adult on its own. The term itself has a favorable meaning. After all, the most senior employee in a firm or the most senior member on a sports team is seen as knowledgeable and respected. However, you should not automatically assume that every older adult is a senior – someone on the younger end of the age spectrum may not consider themselves to be a senior at all.

Elderly

The term "elderly" refers to someone who is over middle age and has reached the end of their life's journey. Medical specialists, on the other hand, disagree over what constitutes "elderly." Although the phrase can be used in a caring or empathetic way, it frequently connotes ill health or impaired capacity. Some people dislike being referred to as elderly because they believe it suggests that they are exceedingly old or fragile. In many contexts, however, "elder" is a term of respect (for example, among tribe elders, church elders, and so on), and seniors are often revered for their knowledge and wisdom.

Old

A person who has been living for a long period is referred to as an old person. It's a subjective phrase by its very definition. (Who defines what constitutes a long time?) In our youth-obsessed culture, being "old" is nearly generally viewed as a negative trait, and it is frequently connected with being ineffective, brittle, or outdated. Many people go to considerable measures to avoid seeming to be elderly. "Older," on the other hand, is a more neutral and relative phrase; an older adult has simply lived longer than another. You may be older than a teenager, but it doesn't imply you're "old."

Geriatric

Geriatric care is a specialty of medicine that focuses on the health care requirements of the elderly. Nursing care, end-of-life care (hospice), and other services fall under this category. Although the phrase is regularly used in the medical field, it is not often used outside of that context. It implies that the person is exhausted, senile, or has a short life expectancy.

There are a plethora of terminology and phrases that are used to characterize the elderly. These terms are sometimes used interchangeably when they should not be. Some words have implications that aren't always suitable in specific situations, while others are universally accepted.