When we speak of elderly people, we are speaking of two categories: the old person who has reached the point of absent-mindedness and aimless talk, (al-hazyaan) the person who cannot comprehend what he or she is doing or saying. There will be no fast for these people, nor will they be required to feed the needy for the days missed, because their case is like that of a child before reaching the age of discretion, tamyeez. But if he or she suffers relapses, the fast is mandatory for him, or while he comprehends and when he does not comprehend there will be no fast. These rules about the elderly people apply to the rest of their Islamic obligations, including Salaat, Hajj, etc.
