The wisdom of age...all without the internet!

OLDER people can pass on “valuable life skills” which are in danger of being lost to younger generations, experts claim.

Practical know-how such as ironing shirts, changing tyres, making jam and doing sums without calculators come much more easily to the over-55s.

Many older people can bake without recipes just by guessing the weight of ingredients, tie bandages, rewire plugs, polish shoes, sew on buttons, identify birds and play chess – all without having to look up anything on the internet.

Researchers also found over-55s are more likely to be able to spell, know correct grammatical terms and write formal letters.

However, seven out of 10 millennials quizzed for a survey admitted they would like to learn more from their elders. The study was commissioned by Bupa, ahead of National Care Home Open Day 2018, which sees more than 100 homes open their doors so communities can engage with residents and break down age barriers.

Bupa Care Homes managing director Joan Elliott said: “There’s so much we can learn from the older generations, but there is a real danger that we’re losing valuable life skills and pastimes.

“Thankfully these things are easy to pass between generations – we just need to find time to start the conversations.”

The survey compared 2,000 over55s and millennials in 40 aspects of life, ranging from home-making to first aid to basic repairs.

Not surprisingly it found older people are better at imperial measurement, with 90 per cent being able to say how many pounds there are in a stone and how many feet make a yard.

And when it came to managing money, 86 per cent of older people felt in control compared to 52 per cent of the younger generation.

The study also found almost three-quarters of people feel the younger generation has worse general knowledge, due to a reliance on the internet.

Other areas where the oldies shone included knowing how to get stains out of clothes, tend gardens, treat burns, fix bike chains and knowing when the post is collected.

Eight out of 10 agreed it is great for generations to come together.

Ms Elliott added: “Our Open Day is a great chance for people to meet new faces, share stories and learn something.”