When is it set? My grandmother (born 1916) was old in her 60s and died in her mid-70s and this was pretty normal. My parents (born 1946) are now a similar age but in a much earlier "life stage", looking after grandchildren, travelling, and are basically fit and healthy. Someone in their 80s now could be anywhere from still working part-time, volunteering and travelling, or they could be quite frail, depending on their life and health. Someone in their 80s thirty years ago would have been very elderly and outlived most or all of their friends.