Up until age fifty, I had perfect health. My only hospital experience had been to visit friends. Now at 57, I am a two time cancer survivor along with other annoying little ailments that pop up from time to time. I was overweight, had little energy, and just felt my age+. Yep, it seemed that 50 was the start of my decline.

A year ago I bought a bicycle, and consulted a nutritionist to change my diet. 1800 miles later, I am 30 pounds lighter, have much more energy, and a more positive attitude about life in general. My blood pressure is lower than it has been in the past 20 years. A recent fasting blood test showed a remarkable improvement in my health stats from a year ago. By the way Stapfam, everyone is vitamin "D" deficient.

I've concluded that most of my health issues that started at 50 were probably self-induced. Even though I would kill for a bucket of KFC right now, I will never go back to my old eating habits. Lets ride!

Sorry, I never noticed. I'm 61 now, started commuting by bike for recreation when in college, never changed. Like my signature implies, I feel the same as I did in my 30's, but now I nap more frequently.

Marc

Next time around, I'm picking different parents. It's all genes, with a big dollop of behavior.

This thread has made me realize that, although I've always felt that I had a second-rate body, I've been incredibly lucky. Thanks.

Don't roll your eyes. When I lived in Nevada I would haul my fat arse around town in 110 degree heat all the time. Lots of water to keep the "coolant" flowing, and it was actually comfortable, until you stop moving and the evaporation slows. Escondido, and the hills to the inland, average humidity in the low 20%'s at those temps. Doing a ride like that in Florida at 80 degrees and 90% would fill the emergency rooms.

From a training manual I co-authored in 2009:

Old age is not a disease. Decline in function is the normal process of aging — not illness. While this process is inevitable, it does not mean that it will prevent the older person from leading a healthy, productive life. However, when the older person is confronted with a disease or health disorder the following can be identified:

• The symptoms may differ from a younger person,
• It is more likely to be a chronic disorder,
• Treatment may differ,
• The recovery process may be slower, and
• The person is more likely to need assistance with activities of daily living during this process.

There are some diseases which occur almost exclusively in the older person just as there are some which occur mostly among the young or only in certain ethnic or racial groups. This "statistical" description of the older person and illness is only that, and no individual's ability to fight illness will necessarily fit that description.

What's your working definition of "older person?" Obviously everyone is older than someone else.

I get confused by terms such as "elderly," "senior," or as they are doing around here, "aging older adult." They really have no meaning to the average reader.

What is wrong with saying - "folks who are 65 and older" - or 75 - or 85, etc. That takes away the marked gray areas. Or, perhaps, a functional definition, as in disability definitions under the ADA?

The issue of language continues to be one rooted in history and context. As an example, in the "aging network" of service providers where I live, calling people "folks" would be considered to informal and offensive to some. The history of “folks” being a term to describe less sophisticated people is not all that distant to many. Last year I sat through over six hours (spread over two days) of discussions about calling the people we serve either "consumers" or "participants". I understand the historical reason for using "consumer". Its roots are in the 60s when being a consumer was a good thing, much better than being a "client". Consumers, at the time were seen as those who were making decisions about what they wanted, and a client was a demeaning name in that it inferred a lesser position of power. Last year’s discussion came about because there was concern that people with disabilities were being seen, correctly or incorrectly, as “consuming” a disproportionate share of the “limited” resources available from Medicare and Medicare funding. Part of the problem with saying “the person over 65” is that it is an arbitrary number used to define age based on funding requirements. The fact is that people age at different rates. In the beginning of the manual we discussed the use of all labels employed for the people we serve. It ended with these two sentences: "So, you can see that terminology used today will continue to evolve. From the practitioner’s view point all terms should, however, be used with the intent to show respect."

Which brings us to the possibility of a functional definition.

(I did not really mean that we would use the term "folks" - that was just my generic term for any of a number of potential words such as individual or person. I imagine there are some distinct regional variations in acceptance of different words).

The ADA (and the Rehab Act of 1973, as amended) defines an "individual with a disability" as:

(1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; OR (2) has a record of such an impairment; OR (3) is regarded as having such an impairment.

A physical impairment is defined by ADA as "any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine."

and a "Major Life Activity" as:

"To be a disability covered by the ADA, an impairment must substantially limit one or more major life activities. A major life activity is an activity that an average person can perform with little or not difficulty. Examples are walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, performing manual tasks, caring for oneself, working, sitting, standing, lifting, reading."

Does this relate to a potential definition of "older person" or whatever one might want to call it? As poor examples, I offer certain functional characteristics such as inability to walk a mile, or lack of certain levels of breathing capacity?

What I am suggesting is that there are folks 75 who are functionally 50 and vice versa, yet this is, seemingly, not recognized in the gerontology field (of which I am in no way an expert).

It seems to me that offering programs to groups such as "Silver Sneakers" on an age basis is not really valid. Offerings should be based on functional characteristics.

My Observations (I'm 51):
- We're at the prime age group when, sadly, things (diseases and other maladies) just start happening to you, some "out of the blue," some not "out of the blue." All this actually from the age of 40 on as far as I'm concerned.
- Injuries come sooo easily!
- Definitely spend more time visiting doctors and specialists from 50 on.
- Body parts begin to wear out from years of sports and other activities; or, resulting from years of inactivity, and now all-of-a-sudden you're very active, so the body parts reject the shock of the new-found active lifestyle.
* Despite the above, I think it's best for most people to just keep moving; it'll only get worse if you choose a sedentary track in life.
* Perpetual physical rehab and injury management! That's what 50s is for me and many others.

Sh$%^T happens in general, but most of the bad sh$%^T starts about age 50 and picks up steam from there.

Only aid to reducing is to ride more, so get a new bike and get a girlfriend under 35yo! You will then still be old, falling apart and look silly doing it, but you won't care...

I understand your point. It would, however, be folly to suggest that one's ageist attitudes would be eliminated simply by choice of profession. I suspect that is also true of prejudice manifest in the work within the field of disability. Language within the fields of both disability and aging will continue to evolve. What I find interesting is what I’ve experienced to be a general reluctance to fully understand the reasons for the differences. Too often I’ve heard, “What ‘they’ don’t seem to understand is…” This, in my opinion is often driven by a false competition for what we mistakenly believe to be a shortage of resources. My view has always been that one can choose to look for the differences, or one can recognize that the commonalities far outweigh the differences and seek to enhance this.
With that said and to play devil's advocate, I wonder how ADA defines "average person”?
And, perhaps we should continue this discussion elsewhere so the thread isn’t completely hijacked.

Ride more. It won't give you a free pass, but it'll make a big difference to your chances.

OK - but as the thread title relates to what happens at 50, one might want to know - 50 chronologically or 50 functionally (if there is such a thing). As far as further definitions in the ADA, there is just a huge amount of case law refining definitions, etc.

But, enough said. Thanks for the feedback, and I will drop the topic.

Denver

I didn't start falling apart until I retired at 63. I think it had something to do with my wife having full time access.

At age 80 I feel fine. Still pedal 100 to 125 miles a week between my single bike and our tandem. So far have cycled 300,000+ miles since the early 1970s.
Only health issues: cataracts, glaucoma, bit of high blood pressure and had cancer 7 years ago.
At age 50+ was still riding centuries and double centuries.
Must be doin' something right!
Pedal on!
Rudy/zonatandem

You don't develop the "get off the lawn" attitude because you feel like you're 16.

You can still enjoy the ride though.

Wow !!! What a thread. I've been gimping around for a couple weeks with a sore shoulder. Doing mild self pity as to when it'll heal. NO MORE.

I'm pushing 70. Couple of ticks away. Maybe what's helping me is a good wife aided by keeping weight down (190# on 6'2" looking to 180# this summer) and lots of walking/riding and limited alcohol. And luck ! Best to ya!

I'm 57 and have nothing negative going on with my body. I go to my doctor every year or two for a routine checkup. I also live a healthy lifestyle and have for most of my life.
Everything in moderation. I drink a beer or two per week, smoked a bit in my early years but quit close to 35 years ago, eat a generally healthy diet but could/should lose 10lbs. I exercise daily, riding 125 miles per week. My wife and I snow shoe in the winter and hike 6 to 9 miles on a weekend day.
I'm lucky as my health has always been good and come from a sturdy family...great grandma lived to 112 and while mentally not quite there she was pretty sound for a woman her age...died of old age.

Just do your best to live moderately, get plenty of rest, eat healthy and exercise regularly...

It's all in perspective.

Courtesy of Big Willie:

When forty winters shall beseige thy brow,
And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field,
Thy youth's proud livery, so gazed on now,
Will be a tatter'd weed, of small worth held:
Then being ask'd where all thy beauty lies,
Where all the treasure of thy lusty days,
To say, within thine own deep-sunken eyes,
Were an all-eating shame and thriftless praise.
How much more praise deserved thy beauty's use,
If thou couldst answer 'This fair child of mine
Shall sum my count and make my old excuse,'
Proving his beauty by succession thine!
This were to be new made when thou art old,
And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st it cold.

The 50s are the decade where you get to watch your hair turn 50 shades of gray...

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Some people like me have been so blessed that 50 really meant nothing. Im turning 75 this year and dont feel much different that when I turned 50. Never in a hospital, and no operations. I still have everything I was born with plus 32 teeth. My doctor is amazed that I can still ride over 2500 miles every year with no problems. It would be further if it wasnt for living in the snow belt.

Yes, I am riding about 2500 - 3000 miles per year, also. Additionally, I swim and walk a lot and do a lot of resistance exercises. But, then, I am a year younger than you are - so who knows what next year will bring??

We are blessed. A high school friend just died in Cortez, CO, and, yesterday morning, my son's former wonderful caregiver died suddenly and unexpectedly - she was in her early 60's - late 50's? She only quit being his caregiver a month ago.

You just never know what is around the corner.

I wish you many years.

50 is the age when either you get control of your health or the bill comes due. Just sayin'

Funny about that. In the couple of years after 50 I had a variety of aches and pains. Now at 58, I feel amazing. My body feels like it's 35. Hopefully better times are coming for you too.
Remember: Things are never so bad that they couldn't be worse.