Which age group is considered the 'oldest old'?

• A. 65-74
• B. 75-84
• C. 85 and older
• D. 90-99

Answer: (C)

In geriatrics, age groups are used to capture how health and care needs change as people get older. The term oldest old refers to individuals who are 85 and older, because starting around that age health patterns—such as frailty, chronic disease burden, functional dependence, and cognitive changes—tend to shift enough to set them apart from younger seniors. This threshold helps researchers and clinicians tailor interventions and allocate resources to a group with distinct needs. The younger group is typically considered young-old, while the next bracket covers those a bit older; a subset like ninety-somethings falls within the oldest-old, but 85 and older is the conventional boundary used to define this category.