I feel that they can do a lot more with the elder stage, it could be so much more interesting.

For one, I'd like to see the effects of a sims life reflected in how well they age into the elder stage.
If they spend their entire life eating junkfood, stressed out from work and constantly getting injured or sick, they could be more frail in their old age.
Slower, needing to pee more often, walking a bit slouched, have more wrinkles, unable to do more physical activities such as snowboarding, riding a mechanical bull, etc.
But if they took good care of themselves, they could be quite active in their old age. They'd walk upright, look much fitter and could do anything a young sim can do.

Aside from this, all elders should have less stamina. They'd be able to do all activities, but wouldnt be able to do a ten hour work out or such. Even the fittest sim would be somewhat slowed down by old age after all.

Also, it might be fun to have a retirement home for elders.
They can stay in their own home of course, but many elders may feel a bit lonely after the kids move out and they outlive their partner. And you might end up with many lonely old sims around town.
So why not have a retirement home where they are nursed and can socialise with other elders? It could be somewhat like a hotel.
There could even be some different interactions possible based on the sims traits. The more flirty elders could flirt with the young attractive care takers, grumpy old sims could always complain about the food, the service, etc.

Elder specific interactions also seem like a must for the series.
-talk about the good old days. Possible to do with other elders.
-Lecture about the good old days. Possible to do with younger sims.
-Share experience. By speaking with other sims of a trait they maxed out, other sims can improve that skill.

And lastly, elders may get certain things they want to do before they die, and possibly leave a will behind so their possesions are divided after their death.
They might want to make a trip to a foreign land, reconcile with the daughter who they havent seen in years, spend time with their grandchildren, get a tattoo, eat a specific meal, etc.
As for their will, by default all items could be sold and the value would be divided over all their children. But this could be changed to giving some children a higher or lower percentage, objects can be added to the will, and of course they would be able to exclude their children and/or include other sims. They can also choose to donate everything to charity.

Well, this has to do... In the Sims 2 when an elder dies with a platinium bar the grim reaper appears with two other girls and hands him/her a margarita.. and then the sims walks and fades.. it's a lovely touch.. like "ya'll doin' somethin' right mate".

here is the link > http://sims.wikia.com/wiki/Hula_Zombie

and the videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSgtptpTaBI

I need a double agree button, in TS2 I was never interested in having my sims age up to be an elder, always stopping the aging process. But now I kind of enjoy having elders in my game. But like you said with the exception of reproduction. Elders can and will do anything and everything younger sims can do, their isn't anything wrong with that. It just makes the game feel a bit more boring, than again I have an issue with allowing my sims kids to move out, I really enjoy being in control of everything. I love master controller for this. But like the baby/toddler and partially child stage they seem so very neglected. I remember in TS2 the grandma hug or kiss or something, while I never saw it I loved the fact that sims recognized when they were related to someone beyond parent or wife/husband. I also just thought of this but what if their was a get advice interaction between elders and younger sims, and dependent on the relationship the younger sims mood would either improve or get a bit worse. Elder sims could also give advice if they had a high enough relationship with the selected sim

What I miss the most from Sims 2, how adult children would run to greet their parents when they visit. I also missed the loving relationship between family members especially when it's close. If the relationship is bad the Sims would have a fear of rejection from the other family member, like arguing or insults. Elders may be able to do things that adults do in Sims 2 but they didn't have the energy to do the activities long. Required sleep or naps.

I like the OP's suggestions and hope EA will put more efforts in relationships this time. It's like they wanted it thrown out, like no player appreciated those interactions in Sims 3.

This would be freaking awesome if, while the elder is lecturing the young'un, their speech bubble shows some sort of icons representing a hill, snow, and school.

I admit I have yet to play any elders in TS3 so I can't say how I feel about them but I loved elders in TS2 (after I found a mod that allowed them to sleep in til 6AM). I had them throw massive parties and invite all their descendants, their cousins, their cousins' families, their second cousins' families. They were literally the kings and queens of my hood and in charge until they died.

They were the babysitters for the younger generations, the ones who taught the toddlers to talk, walk, and the kids how to do homework. In that vein I think it'd be awesome if elders could teach things to their grandchildren faster than the parents, just like how the wider the age gap in TS2, the faster a sim's personality is encouraged to change (depending on relationship, of course!).

And this is sort of an amalgamation of the garden club and the hobby clubs, but I think it'd be neat if elders could have get-togethers with other sims they share a hobby or skill in common with, like sims interested in gardening would get together and help tend your sim's garden, sims interested in fishing could meet and fish and socialize together on the riverbank. I guess that could be any sim age but I feel like this would be a special thing for elders because (most of the time!) they're retired and have nothing to do. Or this could be some sort of feature where they gather at a Community Center (non-RH of course) for elder-only events, like Bingo Night! Damn. Now I wish that was in my game. Community events at some generic lot (The Malcolm Landgraab II Memorial Community Center) where certain sims could gather.

So true I hope they do that.

A Sim who is extremely successful -- top of 3 careers maybe, 500,000 simoleans earned, max skills, 16 grandchildren, platinum aspiration, whatever criteria you want -- should be honored after death by having their head carved in a mountainside, there can be large statues of them erected downtown in community lots, they could even be elevated to the status of the pagan gods like Roman emperors after death. It wouldn't be much more ridiculous than UFOs pregnancies or arguing with the Grim Reaper, and would be a fun way to honor one or two special sims in each neighborhood.

This a great topic for discussion, I have always felt that elders were rather neglected in the series. I love the idea of an elderly home! You could see them sitting there playing checkers or chess. I feel like there should be an age group between adults and elders though I always felt that the transition was to extreme. At the same time I never felt elderly sims were "old" enough. when I think of elderly people I think knitting needles and aching backs, walking sticks and maybe even wheel chairs. I can just picture an elderly sim siting on the couch lecturing the children about the good old days lol. :lovestruc

I really want Elders to get more clothing options. They (and children, and toddlers) have previously been very neglected in that area.

I think we could see a gradual decrease in a Sims health and life quality throughout their time as an elder; for example as soon as you age from an adult in to an elder your Sim slumps over a small bit and will occasionally cough or run out of breath going up stairs, but after a set period they deteriorate more, they could have their hair start to go grey, walk more slowly and have more wishes for retirement and vacation etc. and less about going clubbing or buying a new car. Eventually they would reach the end stage where they're pretty hunched over and need a walking stick, things like using exercise equipment would be greyed out and their bladder and energy needs would fall a lot faster.
We should also have an option to send Sims off of the map (like the free vacations in Generations), they could go on a cruise for 2 weeks, or we could send them to retire on a tropical island, they would still show up in the family and you would be able to invite them over like you can invite Uni friends over in TS3.

I want the option to have my elders age gracefully, not suddenly lose their muscles, breasts, beauty and overall resemblance to their former selves

I always liked the zombie hula dancers they could have, it made me smile when I first saw it and is my favourite death in Sims 2. I normally do not play as elders as it is harder for me to get them to look older enough with the skins I use and I am never sure how much time they have left.

Inhuman One. As a Senior Citizen I thank you for your post on elders. It is so pleasing to see that not all players view elders as decrepit and hunched over. You have many good points and I just hope that the creators of the game do read the posts here and take notice of them. I personally feel that the way they have made elders - in all the Sims games - has been insulting.