Denise Taylor, a chartered psychologist and author, has voiced her concerns about how society uses the term "middle-aged" to describe people over 60. At 69, Taylor argues that this label often frames aging as something to be hidden rather than embraced. She believes that there is a need for new language to describe the stage of life that comes after midlife, which she sees as a distinct and meaningful phase in its own right. Research from the MIDUS study shows that the average age people consider the end of midlife is 59. Taylor notes that when she turned 60, she didn’t feel any dramatic physical or social shift. She also references a Stanford University study that highlights significant molecular changes in the body around the ages of 44 and 60, but she hasn’t personally noticed such changes at 60. This has led her to argue that the period from 60 to 80 is a unique life stage, not just an extension of midlife or a prelude to old age. Taylor describes this time as a period with its own set of possibilities, limitations, and personal growth. Since turning 60, she has experienced major life changes, including a divorce, completing a doctorate, buying property, writing more books, and stepping back from work that had long defined her. She emphasizes that this stage of life doesn’t necessarily require a dramatic reinvention. Instead, she believes simply continuing to engage in meaningful work and aging naturally is enough. Taylor acknowledges that this stage also brings challenges, such as the loss of parents and friends, and a natural decline in some abilities, even if health in other areas remains strong. She proposes the term "olderhood" to describe the years between 60 and 80, emphasizing that it is a life stage with its own identity. She notes that during this time, people often experience a shift in how they view themselves, with career no longer being the main part of their identity, and a deeper understanding of their true self emerging alongside an awareness of life’s finiteness. Taylor criticizes how aging is often portrayed in the media, where older celebrities are frequently styled and retouched to the point where it is hard to tell their real appearance from the enhancements. She argues that this sends a message that aging should be hidden or disguised. She also points out that when the public image of being old is mainly associated with frailty, those who are older but not frail must constantly prove they are exceptions. Taylor believes older people should be visible and ordinary, allowed to look the way they actually are—whether that means being active, curious, engaged, or simply tired. She believes olderhood is a valid and meaningful stage of life that doesn’t need a disclaimer.