Did you know that senior status starts at age 60? What that really means for you

When do you become "senior"? 50? 60? Retirement age? It's difficult to navigate, as definitions vary so widely depending on the context. This term, which can cause discomfort or irritation, is nevertheless omnipresent: in advertising, at work, in healthcare, public policy, and commercial offerings. A better understanding of what lies behind the "senior" label allows us to detach ourselves from it and, why not, reclaim it in a positive way.

A Latin origin, a modern evolution

The word "senior" comes from the Latin senex , meaning "old" or "ancient." In ancient Rome, it primarily denoted a status of wisdom and respect. In French, its use gradually spread in the 20th century, particularly to refer to age categories in sports or business. Today, it often has a vague, even discriminatory connotation, depending on usage.

Definitions vary depending on the field

• In marketing : people are often considered seniors from the age of 50. This target group is considered solvent, stable, but also subject to fears (health, isolation, retirement). The insurance, tourism and mutual insurance sectors, for example, use this threshold to adapt their offers.
• In the professional world : the status of "senior employee" can begin as early as 45 years old . A symbolic milestone where one becomes eligible for certain HR measures : skills assessment, support for retraining, continued employment, etc.
• In medicine and public policy , people generally become seniors around the age of 60 , i.e., near retirement. This is also the age at which health monitoring changes: specific assessments, targeted prevention campaigns, etc.

Being a senior: a turning point, not an end

Becoming a senior isn't about entering a fixed category; it's often about embarking on a new phase of life. Children are grown, careers are evolving or coming to an end, and priorities are changing. It's a good time to refocus on yourself, discover new activities, share your knowledge, or reorient your life. Experience becomes a source of wealth.

What really matters is not so much your date of birth as how you experience your age. You can feel "senior" at 45, just as you can stay in great shape at 75. Physical activity, intellectual stimulation, social life, and a sense of purpose are all factors that influence perceived aging. Today, we even talk about "active youthfulness" to describe dynamic and engaged people over 60.

"Senior" is neither a swear word nor inevitable. It's a label we can choose to use to our advantage: that of a person of experience, freedom, and maturity. It's better to understand it to better tame it. Because becoming a senior may also mean starting something new.