Defining older adults
One of the core objectives of the research was to investigate respondents’ view on terminology for “older adults” and to test the wording of older adults versus using an age specific cut off. The research was also tasked with determining if respondents identify as being older. This section reports in detail on the definition and categorisation of older adults.
Findings across different sub-groups of respondents were highly consistent.
Several older respondents noted that many people don’t feel old at 65 even if they technically meet the criteria. Older respondents who identified themselves as falling into the category of being more vulnerable to food poisoning identified this due to health issues rather than purely age. Older adults were more readily perceived as vulnerable when vulnerability was framed in relation to lifestyle factors, health status, or physical fitness as being the reason rather than age alone. Some also mentioned older people’s failing eyesight and senses as leaving them more susceptible to food poisoning because of poor reading and lack of smell. A few mentioned older people’s tendency not to waste food and eat what was in the fridge/cupboard regardless of its freshness, as making them vulnerable.
“I know you can be different because people age at different rates. Age is just a number, you know, it's how their health has declined or otherwise.” General Population ABC1
“I think it really depends on the person, because I know some people are in their 80s, they are fit as fiddles, and other people struggle to get out of their bed. It really just depends on the person.” Older Adult C2DE
“I'm 70 and I don't have any, keep touching wood, don't have any ailments. I have got very good health, always have had, long may it continue. I know a lot of people are like that, but I also know people that are my age and younger who have got ailments.” Older Adult ABC1
“Well, older people, and especially who have dementia or Parkinson's and things like that, you know that affect the memory. Obviously, they forget how to cook things, how to store things, you know, hygiene again, you know.” Immunocompromised
When people defined older adults by age, responses ranged from 55 years old to 70+, showing that age alone is not intuitive or straightforward for people. Respondents saw “older adult” less as a demographic category and more as a fluid, health based category, where lifestyle and fitness are key determinants of vulnerability. However, 65 years and older was widely recognised as an age specific cut off because it aligns with traditional pension age and historical retirement age.
“Well, I would say anybody that’s about 65 and over ‘cause you're considered...as far as the NHS is concerned, you're considered geriatric at 60. And I'm 71, so I don't consider myself as an older adult, but on paper, that’s what I am.” Carer
“It’s very, very hard to define because…you could get a 50 or 60 year old who might have not lived a great lifestyle and looks older, but then you've got older people that…are the opposite.” Carer
“Mum’s in her 60s now and she’s still, like, so energetic. I think she’s got more energy than I have. So, when she’s with our little boy, I'm like, where does she get it from. I think she would, kind of, struggle with, I guess, being put in that older category but she’s, like, you know, down on paper I'm probably classed as older.” Carer
Although there was broad acceptance of 65 years as an appropriate reference point for defining older age, many respondents in this age group were reluctant to self identify as older adults. However, when the groups later went on to discuss the FSS definitions the inclusion of the qualifier “typically” was viewed positively, as it acknowledged individual variation and reduced resistance to the label.
“I know a lot of people that are, you know, in their early 70s and they're very fit and healthy and I think people are living longer than you know, they don't seem as old at 65 or 75 or that.” Older Adult ABC1
While there was some debate about what constitutes an older adult and some were reticent to class themselves as such, respondents responded positively to the definition that explained why people over 65 are included, specifically, that immune systems tend to weaken with age. This functional framing helped them accept the category more clearly.