How should elderly Catholics observe fasting and abstinence during Lent?
The short answer
Abstinence binds Latin Catholics from age 14 with no upper age limit, though those who medically need meat may be dispensed. Fasting binds from 18 until the beginning of one's 60th year; after that one is excused but may still fast if health permits.
Abstinence. Canon 1252 requires all Latin-rite Catholics to abstain from age 14. There is no age at which one is automatically excused, but those who need to eat meat for medical reasons may be dispensed.
Fasting. In the United States the obligation to fast begins at 18 and lasts "until the beginning of their 60th year" (canon 1252). From then on a person is automatically excused from fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, though he may still fast if his health allows and he wishes.
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