老年期(ろうねんき)

Compound of 老年(ろうねん) ('old age') and 期(き) ('period; phase; stage'). Names the final stage in the standard progression of life phases used in Japanese medicine, psychology, and welfare policy.

Usage

• A technical or semi-formal term; in casual conversation about 'when you get old' speakers are more likely to say 年(とし)を取(と)ってから or お年寄(としよ)りの時期(じき).
• Frequent in healthcare contexts: 老年期(ろうねんき)医学(いがく) ('geriatric medicine'), 老年期(ろうねんき)のうつ病(びょう) ('late-life depression'), 老年期(ろうねんき)認知症(にんちしょう) ('late-onset dementia').
• Typically defined as age 65 and above, though boundaries vary by source.

Common collocations

• 老年期(ろうねんき)に入(はい)る: to enter old age
• 老年期(ろうねんき)を迎(むか)える: to reach old age
• 老年期(ろうねんき)医学(いがく): geriatric medicine
• 老年期(ろうねんき)の健康(けんこう): health in old age
• 老年期(ろうねんき)認知症(にんちしょう): late-onset dementia

Similar words

• 壮年期(そうねんき): prime of life (roughly 30s to 50s) — the preceding life stage.
• 高齢期(こうれいき): old age — near-synonym; 高齢(こうれい) is often used in policy documents and statistics.
• 晩年(ばんねん): one's later years — more literary; emphasizes the last part of a particular person's life rather than a biological stage.
• 老後(ろうご): life after retirement; one's years in old age — everyday word focused on the practical phase after working life.