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==Definition==
==Definition==
[[Image:Maes Old Woman Dozing.jpg|right|thumb|150px|''Old Woman Dozing'' by [[Nicolaes Maes]] (1656). [[Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium|Royal Museums of Fine Arts]], [[Brussels]]]]
[[Image:Maes Old Woman Dozing.jpg|right|thumb|150px|''Old Woman Dozing'' by [[Nicolaes Maes]] (1656). [[Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium|Royal Museums of Fine Arts]], [[Brussels]]]]
The boundary between [[middle ge]] and old age cannot be defined exactly because it does not have the same meaning in all societies. In many parts of the world, people are considered old because of certain changes in their activities or social roles. Examples: people may be considered old when they become [[grandparent]]s, or when they begin to do less or different work — [[retirement]]. In North America and Europe, people are often considered old if they have lived a certain number of years.
The boundary between [[middle age]] and old age cannot be defined exactly because it does not have the same meaning in all societies. In many parts of the world, people are considered old because of certain changes in their activities or social roles. Examples: people may be considered old when they become [[grandparent]]s, or when they begin to do less or different work — [[retirement]]. In North America and Europe, people are often considered old if they have lived a certain number of years.


Many North Americans think of 65 as the beginning of old age because, until recently, United States workers became eligible to retire at this age with full [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] benefits. People in the 65-and-over age group are often called ''[[senior citizen]]s''. In 2003, the age at which a US citizen became eligible for full Social Security benefits began to increase gradually, and will continue to do so until it reaches 67 in 2027.{{Fact|date=March 2009}} Currently, it is 66.{{Fact|date=March 2009}}
Many North Americans think of 65 as the beginning of old age because, until recently, United States workers became eligible to retire at this age with full [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] benefits. People in the 65-and-over age group are often called ''[[senior citizen]]s''. In 2003, the age at which a US citizen became eligible for full Social Security benefits began to increase gradually, and will continue to do so until it reaches 67 in 2027.{{Fact|date=March 2009}} Currently, it is 66.{{Fact|date=March 2009}}

Revision as of 01:13, 12 March 2009

For the song Old Age by Nirvana, see With the Lights Out.

Template:Globalize/USA

A smiling old man from Tajikistan

Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle. Euphemisms and terms for old people include seniors — chiefly an American usage — or elderly. As occurs with almost any definable group of humanity, some people will hold a prejudice against others — in this case, against old people. This is one form of ageism.

Old people have limited regenerative abilities and are more prone to disease, syndromes, and sickness than other adults. For the biology of ageing, see senescence. The medical study of the aging process is gerontology, and the study of diseases that afflict the elderly is geriatrics.

Definition

Old Woman Dozing by Nicolaes Maes (1656). Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Brussels

The boundary between middle age and old age cannot be defined exactly because it does not have the same meaning in all societies. In many parts of the world, people are considered old because of certain changes in their activities or social roles. Examples: people may be considered old when they become grandparents, or when they begin to do less or different work — retirement. In North America and Europe, people are often considered old if they have lived a certain number of years.

Many North Americans think of 65 as the beginning of old age because, until recently, United States workers became eligible to retire at this age with full Social Security benefits. People in the 65-and-over age group are often called senior citizens. In 2003, the age at which a US citizen became eligible for full Social Security benefits began to increase gradually, and will continue to do so until it reaches 67 in 2027.[citation needed] Currently, it is 66.[citation needed]

Physical changes

There is often a general physical decline, and people become less active. Old age can cause, amongst other things:

Demographic changes

Population aged at least 65 years in 2005

Worldwide, the number of people 65 or older is increasing faster than ever before. Most of this increase is occurring in developed countries. In the United States the percentage of people 65 or older increased from 4 percent in 1900 to about 13 percent in 1998. In 1900, only about 3 million of the nation's citizens had reached 65. By 1998, the number of senior citizens had increased to about 34 million. Population experts estimate that more than 50 million Americans — about 17 percent of the population — will be 65 or older in 2020. The number of old people is growing around the world chiefly because more children reach adulthood.(Keith Wetzel)

Life expectancy

A gray-haired old woman from Great Britain

In most parts of the world, women live, on average, longer than men. In the United States in the late 1990s, life expectancy at birth was 80 years for women and 77 years for men.

Individuals who became famous in old age

See also

Look up old age or elderly in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Old people.
Preceded by Stages of human development
Old age 		Succeeded by
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