We’re not over the hill until we’re 84

YOU’RE only as old as you feel – and Geordies over 50 are feeling just great.

New research says Newcastle people don’t feel over the hill until the age of 84.

Researchers for FiftyLife, an over-50s life insurance company, say we still feel young and fit after half a century.

One in 20 elderly Geordies are regular visitors to dating sites like Tinder.

Over-50s still enjoy driving, dating, and having sex, the company says.

FiftyLife polled over-50s in Newcastle and discovered that most pensioners in their 60s and 70s are living life to the full.

In fact, one in 20 of those who took part in the study said they still feel like a teenager – and three quarters still consider themselves young.

Matthew Gledhill, managing director, said: “It’s encouraging that so many people in Newcastle who are either approaching or in retirement still feel so young.

“Living life to the full and having a positive outlook on life is the key to being happy in old age and it will be pleasing for so many over-50s in Newcastle that they aren’t considered officially old until they are approaching their mid-80s.

“The research highlighted how technologically savvy many pensioners are, and staying in touch with family and friends on social media was a common trait of those in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.”

The research said as many as nine in 10 of the city’s 60 and 70-year-olds consider themselves young, fit and able, and not remotely ‘past it.’

The study showed 67% said they still feel young because they have a positive outlook.

The same percentage said as long as you could still drive, you were considered youthful.

More than a quarter of the over-50s polled said they still feel youthful because they regularly attract attention from the opposite sex, while one in five confess to still having a great sex life.

More than two thirds of over-50s in Newcastle claim to be in good health – with 63% saying they were in fairly good shape and 6% going as far as to say they’re as fit as a fiddle. The poll showed more than a third had no intentions of slowing things down and one in five even said they wanted to grow old ‘disgracefully.’

And Newcastle’s over-50s are an online generation.

Close to half of those questioned (47%) describe themselves as a ‘whizz’ at using the internet – and just 4% admit to needing a bit of help.

Four in 10 of those questioned have Facebook and almost one in 10 often use WhatsApp.

Here are the reasons why Geordies of a certain age feel great – see how many describe you: I have a positive outlook on life; I still drive; I look much younger than I am; I have a Facebook account; I travel regularly; I still work; I still dress young; My grandchildren keep me young; I’m online all the time; Being online makes my real age irrelevant; I still attract attention from the opposite sex; I know about popular culture; The fast pace of modern life keeps me young; I have a great love life; I can keep up with people in their 20s; I am still sporty; I still like big nights out.

WEY AYE, 5-0 IS FABULOUS FOR FIT AND FULL-OF-LIFE GEORDIES