Elderly getting 'younger' as life expectancy increases

TAIYUAN－Though China's Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly states that "elderly people are citizens over 60 years old", the elderly are getting "younger" in the eyes of many due to a higher national life expectancy.

In 1957, a 40-year-old man could have been considered elderly in China, because the average life expectancy at that time was just 57 years. In 2019, that number was 77.3 years.

"With continuous improvement of medical and social security services in the country, the elderly have been getting healthier," said Xing Yuan, a professor of sociology with Shanxi University. "This will affect people's evaluations of the elderly."

Yet exactly how old is a senior citizen? There are differing opinions on this matter, but many elderly themselves do not consider 60 to be old.

Feng Junqi, a 77-year-old retiree in Changzhi, Shanxi province, said the 10 years between 60 and 70 is a "golden decade". "Sixty is not old. We have time and money, and most people are healthy during the decade. We can actually do whatever we like at that time," Feng said.

For more than 10 years, Feng traveled the world and has visited more than 60 countries. Today, he is spending more time on calligraphy than traveling abroad.

"Now you can call me an old person," he said.

If you take a look at the streets in China, you can see that the elderly are no longer as "old" as they were 20 years ago. They not only look and dress younger but also live more colorful lives in their later years.

From square dancers and elderly clubgoers to football lovers and silver-haired internet celebrities, there is a widespread sense of unwillingness to accept the process of aging.

China's elderly consumption market will hit 3.79 trillion yuan ($567 billion) this year, according to a report released by the China National Committee on Ageing.

"This is not only because the number of people reaching the legal elderly age continues to increase, but also due to consumer demand generated by the desire to stay young," said Jiang Shan, a senior tour guide in Shanxi, adding that major travel agencies are now competing in the elderly tourism market.

Many retirees believe that they can still have significant social value.

Over the past nine years, more than a hundred retirees have been planting trees in the deep mountains of Kelan county, Shanxi province, greening more than 33 hectares of barren hills.

"We are regarded as senior citizens by law, but we don't feel that old," said Zhang Wenhan, a 74-year-old retired official.

The public's perception of age is also affecting policymaking. A few years ago, China began to consider raising the retirement age, and earlier this month the Ministry of Public Security announced the removal of the upper age limit for driver's license applications.

Xinhua