You're not really old until you reach 75, according to a survey of attitudes towards older people.
Popular impressions of life in your 60s and early 70s remain relatively positive, the survey suggests. But perceptions change sharply when people think about being 75 or older.
Over-75s are seen not only as far more vulnerable and weak, but also as more grumpy and rude.
The survey was carried out for charity WRVS, which is focusing its work more on providing services for older people. It says the view of life after 75 is alarmingly negative and needs challenging.
"Older people are just as talented, witty and knowledgeable as people of other ages," said Lynne Berry, WRVS chief executive. "If we write people off just because they're old, we lose all the skills and experience they've built up throughout their life."
One thousand people across the UK were interviewed for the survey by research organisation nfpSynergy.
A total of 50% of those questioned described people aged 65-74 as independent. But this dropped to 22% in respect of those aged 75 or more. Similarly, 40% described the younger group as resourceful and 42% helpful, but only 25% and 26% respectively used the terms about those aged 75-plus.
Most strikingly, 78% thought people of 75 or more were vulnerable, compared to just 30% who did so of those aged 65-74.
Only 24% described those aged 75-plus as happy (42% did so for the younger group), while 41% thought them grumpy (21%) and 24% rude (14%). In Scotland, as many as 44% of those surveyed considered grumpiness a characteristic of the over-74s.
Berry said: "Our research shows there's a clear change in people's perceptions of you when you reach the age of 75. Suddenly, you're regarded as being weaker, vulnerable and unhappy.
"WRVS volunteers spend a great deal of time with people who are over 75 and we can tell you that they have another story to tell – and it's about time people heard it."
The charity is encouraging older people to share their lifetime experiences to help disprove widely-held stereotypes. Stories are being collected on their website.
