Margaret is a woman in her early 80s who lives in her own home but needs some assistance with housework and cooking. She has some physical impairments that require her to go to the doctor about once every 2 weeks. How would gerontologists categorize her?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gerontologists would categorize Margaret as old-old, which refers to individuals aged 75-84. This population is generally characterized as having more health problems and cognitive impairments than the young-old (aged 65-74), but not as much as the oldest-old (aged 85 and older). Margaret's physical impairments and frequent doctor visits are consistent with this categorization. "Elderly" is a more general term that can refer to anyone above a certain age (usually 65 or 70).

Margaret Is a Woman in Her Early 80s Who Lives