Don't Call Me a Senior Citizen

Labeling people by age groups is practiced by many in our society. Teens, middle age and seniors are age groups that corresponds with age achievement that we label. Without doubt, teens best describe an age group accurately while the others form inaccurate perceptions of a person's chronological age and physical ability.
Definitions change but perceptions do not

When I was growing up, middle age was the years of 38 to 45 in one's life. You were considered to reach your "middle age" at 40 years of age even though life expectancy was 68 years of age. While, a senior was a person who had reach 65 years of age and considered nearing the top of the life span.

Midlife Transition

Fast forward 40 years, we have middle age referring to one in their mid 40's, and a senior is still in their 60's. Life expectancy has increased to 78.4 in the US and 80.7 in Canada, and climbing each year. I listened to a news account a couple of nights ago where a 59 year old woman was referred to as a senior. I believe many Baby Boomers now in their 50's and early 60's are between middle age and senior, and are healthier, more physically active, more sexually active and enjoying more adventures than any generation before. Physically stronger and more mentally engaged than generations before, Baby Boomers are therefore redefining when the term of senior can be used to describe this age related designation.
A new stage in life that needs to be accounted for

Now this period between middle-aged and senior known as a "midlife transition" is getting longer. It has increased to 25 years or more. In today's world, I believe it is proper to consider that a person reaching age of 75 years of age is a senior, not before. A person between 50 and 75, when in good health, will have more free time and are generally able to perform physical activities without assistance, therefore should not be called a senior. Distinguishing between this "midlife transition" and senior is something that has not been identified in the past.

Baby boomers are reaching the average age 50 of at the rate of 10,000 per day and will be for the next five years. Most are in command of "the Empty Nest". Many will be spending their time traveling, volunteering, working, and playing. In a word, they are enjoying life and have more interests than in anytime the past. With additional discretionary income, businesses will make every attempt to target this group of individuals particularly for their propensity to buy and spend on leisure activities and live an "active lifestyle".

Modified Identity Label

An often-time used label for people in this category have been the term "empty nester". Not everyone in the 50 to 75 age range is an "empty nester", but they are in their peak income earning years, they have available free time and now they are seeking ever increasing levels of activity characterized by the Empty Nest. We can identify this group of Baby Boomers as "Active Empty Nesters" conveying the "midlife transition" phase in life.

So, we need a better designation for marketing organizations and businesses to target and label people in their 50s to 70s as either Active Empty Nesters or Active Baby Boomers. To be called a senior is frankly offensive to me since I do not wear that label well. With a little push from this growing population of 50+ we can easily influence markers to label this group with a designation that more accurately describes our physical and mental stage in life.

I am in my early 60s and wish to be known as Active Empty Nester or purveyor of "the Empty Nest", not a senior. I believe I am not alone in this regard. And for God's sake, don't call me elderly. I am not ready for either label.

Ron Mercier, developer of the web site: http://www.activeemptynesters.com/. His web site is for baby boomers and seniors to build local social networks and enjoy activities targeted for the 50+ population. He blogs on topics of interest to baby boomers on http://www.activebabyboomersonline.com/.

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