Published: 02 October 2008
Older People Know How
UK Older People's Day has just passed and new research reveals a rich variety of knowledge, culture and practical ‘know how’ being passed down through families.
Family history, practical skills, stories and recipes top the list of hand-me-downs, with 73% of people saying this knowledge is more likely to be held by their grandparents' generation rather than their own.
There's an appetite to keep this knowledge alive with 77% of us worrying that it may die out.
For fixing, making, providing or entertaining from scratch, our older friends and relatives can be a great source of practical wisdom.
Whether it's to help throw a children's party, end our ready-meal dependency, tend an allotment or do basic DIY, 68% of people are keen to get their hands on this know how.
Pensions Minister Mike O'Brien is calling on younger generations to strengthen their ties with the older people in their lives:
"Swapping stories, skills and ideas across generations gives us an opportunity to discover what we all have in common and appreciate the role older people play in our lives and our communities".
Keeping it in the family
Women are the queens of hand-me-down culture with more agreeing than men that various types of family wisdom have been passed to them.
Type of knowledge Agree passed down through family (%)
Family history 65 61 (M) 69 (F)
Practical skills 59 56(M) 61(F)
Stories 51 48(M) 53(F)
Family recipes 49 37(M) 58(F)
Superstitions 43 34(M) 52(F)
Old wives’ tales 43 32(M) 53(F)
Knowledge of natural world 42 37(M) 47(F)
Jokes 37 37(M) 37(F)
Traditional remedies for illness 35 28(M) 42(F)
Traditional songs, music, dances 33 25(M) 40(F)
Practical wisdom
Traditional skill Know how to do it (%)
Play traditional party games 89
Cook a roast dinner 88
Bake cookies and cakes 81
Grow fruit and vegetables 80
Rewire a plug 80
Mend my own clothes 79
Play traditional card games e.g., whist 72
Jump start a car 67
Make jams and pickles 58
Hang a door 55
Make curtains 48
Do tapestry, embroidery or crochet 46
Make my own clothes 45
Make furniture from wood 38
Navigate using the sun and stars 31
Top motivators
When asked, 68% of people said they would like to learn some of this practical ‘know how’. To have fun and to save money are the top two motivators showing there are financial as well as fun reasons to turn to older friends and relatives for advice. The instinct to, in turn, pass this knowledge on to our children proves a strong driver for a quarter of us.
Top reasons to learn People agree (%)
For fun 30
To save money 26
To pass down to my children 25
To have a new hobby 21
To help stay healthy 16
To help the environment 14
To make money by teaching it 5
Mike O'Brien commented:
"From allotments to local choirs, shared passions help bring people of all ages together. Socialising with people of different generations can help to strengthen local communities and make sure older people aren't isolated or excluded."
Children's Minister, Beverley Hughes added:
"Older people and young people have much to gain from each other: older people having the chance to pass on their insight and experience and younger people engaging with and supporting older people."
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