My Account
What’s in a name?
As a quite able 83 year old, I think I prefer to be ‘elderly’ rather than ‘old’. I feel elderly is a more gentle term; but in actual fact I think it is not the name we are given, but how we feel in ourselves that counts. I don’t mind what I am called.
Marie LeBlanc, Manly
‘E word’ is a pet hate
I enjoyed your Opinion. Although I do not class elderly as a rude word, for many years it has been one of my pet hates. I am in my late 70s, mix with all age groups, keep fit and live at a retirement village. The village caters for independent living for seniors. The majority of us here are well enough to enjoy life with loads of activity. I do understand that we are fortunate to be healthy with many having worked for years on keeping themselves healthy. Some residents are older and not so well, as I too will be one day. Lots of them though are smiling, young at heart and because of their outlook on life they are not what I would classify as elderly. However opposite the village, on the side of Whangaparāoa Road, there is a yellow and black traffic sign with a picture of a person who looks frail, bent over and with a stick. The wording on it is ‘elderly’ so obviously the Transport officials think we are!
Barbara Rosser, Stanmore Bay (abridged)
Not taking offence
Enough is enough. Why are we changing everything to suit a few? There is nothing more annoying than having to change vocabulary because someone is offended. Elderly is describing someone over 65, as you say. I am 76 with a mind of a 30-year-old and active, yet you can call me elderly and I don’t mind. It’s the same as Miss when you’re not married and Mrs when you are. Master for males until 21 and then Mr. I personally think that Ms is a nothingness and describes a non-entity. My mother was on the old age pension (now superannuation) and her only concern was the money in her bank each fortnight and not the name of the pension. Stephanie Clare of Age Concern needs to concern herself with more important things for the elderly like getting an appropriate pension increase as many elderly people are suffering. We all do not have fortunes tucked away. Let’s not be swayed too much by the minority who are princesses or princes and want to be queens and kings, or either or. Live life to the fullest regardless of who you are. As for me, well I’m elderly.
Maureen McDonald, Ōrewa (abridged)
‘Elderly’ an insult
I personally think of people in the late 80s onwards who may be a bit infirm as elderly. Otherwise they are a ‘sprightly octogenarian’. I will be 70 next year and if someone called me elderly I would be most insulted to say the least! We only accepted that my mum was “elderly” just before she died at 94. I’m sure a lot of the over 65s will agree? Our population is more healthy and fitter than in previous generations and therefore ‘elderly’ gives the wrong impression.
Janette Wilkinson, Arkles Bay
The invisible man
I’m a 73-year-old and loving the fun of it. I think you have given a clue as to your preference in the advert for [newspaper deliverers] “walkers”. We could be called ‘The Walking Dead’. I like the invisibility of getting older. I think I could walk out of a supermarket with a trolly of goods and no one would notice. I like Local Matters. Socrates said “I know you won’t believe me, but the highest form of human excellence is to question yourself and others”. How about someone questioning some of the environmental statements that make as much sense as ice cream on baked beans?? See – I can say these sorts of things because I’m a “walking dead”! Have fun and be funny.
Geoff Hansen, Hatfields Beach (abridged)
Almost elderly now
I’m eighty three, a little bit worse for wear, had three, yes, three hip replacements, and both my knees. Had a cancerous lump the size of a golf ball removed from my bladder seven years ago and I’m still here to tell the tale. Yes I would call myself elderly, but I would have hated to be referred as such up to the age of 75! I still do all my own shopping, cooking and cleaning, not that I can bend down very well to do corners! But I still love to go sailing and fishing (Covid allowing). I lost my bride last year after 58 years together, and returned to my first love, painting. So whatever you want to call us, I think elderly suits us fine.
John Watson, Matakatia
No joke
I am sure that this is a joke! Where on earth could Age Concern even get an inkling that there is any connotation to the word ‘elderly’ other than referring to a person in the older age group? To suggest that it conjures up of someone using a walker is simply unbelievable. I am looking forward to other “elderly” people’s views. And yes, I am in that age group!
John Wallace, Ōrewa
House removals too much
House removal companies are not permitted by NZTA to use the Johnstones Hill tunnels and therefore have to detour through the residential main road north of Ōrewa. We have lived on the main road now for seven years and we used to get maybe a couple of houses go through a week but now they are coming through multiple times per night, between 2am and 4am every week night. In the process they are demolishing road signs and scraping along the traffic islands by driving over the top of them. Not only does this cause damage, but it makes so much noise from metal scraping on concrete and the signs clanging from being driven over, that it wakes us up every night. Recently around 8pm Fulton Hogan replaced the signs with brand new ones and the very next morning once again they were demolished. No doubt the house removal company won’t be paying for this damage, but we all know who will be – right?
Grant Hannah, Ōrewa (abridged)
Editor’s note: Hibiscus Matters is keen to hear from any other locals regarding house removal experiences.
