When Does 'Old Age' Start? When You Stop Shopping CREDIT: Older
Worker Image via Shutterstock How old is old? New research finds
that for most Americans, old age is not heralded in by a
particular birthday, but rather by how a person acts. In
particular, people who still shop for themselves or take care of
their own household chores are less likely to be perceived as
old, new research shows. A study by Oregon State University
researcher Michelle Barnhart found that the ability to
participate in certain activities, such as buying groceries or
attending medical appointments, serve as a means of identifying
whether someone is “old.” The research was based on interviews
with people in their late 80s, their family members and their
paid caregivers. "When people in their 80s or 90s exhibited
characteristics that society tends to associate with people who
are not old, such as being aware, active, safe or independent,
they were viewed and treated as not old," Barnhart said. "In
this way, they were able to age without