Question: What practical skills can young people offer aging folks?

@Shavkat (140504)
Philippines
February 18, 2023 2:28am CST
Personally speaking, they need to catch up with the changes brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and young people, or Gen Z, can teach the older generations practical skills like using modern devices, social media, downloading apps, etc. However, we cannot force them to do these things if they do not want to. Besides technology, what other talents might young people pass on to older people? How can we determine the best course of action when trying to learn something new? Image Credit: https://lifehopeandtruth.com
6 people like this
7 responses
DE
@DaddyEvil (152392)
• United States
18 Feb 23
One thing younger people can do isn't in the tech sector that older people want/need. Most older people just want someone to listen to them, even if it's just to tell stories about when they were young... Older people like reliving memories of the times when they still felt like going out and having fun or when something bad happened to them. It doesn't take much to make an older person happy. Just letting them talk while someone is actually paying attention to what they're saying can make them happy all day long.
4 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (357282)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 23
Well said. Older people have a lot of life skills to pass on too if younger people are willing to listen.
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (152392)
• United States
18 Feb 23
@JudyEv Thank you.
2 people like this
Shavkat
@Shavkat (140504)
• Philippines
18 Feb 23
@DaddyEvil You described some elders who want special attention as mentioned. My mom used to be this person who does not want to learn new things. Instead, she just wanted to talk with me and do other things.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (357282)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 23
A lot of older people would appreciate help with technology I'm sure.
3 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (152392)
• United States
18 Feb 23
It also doesn't NEED to be a GenZ person teaching them, either. Teaching older people about the new tech they wanted to buy was my job for 14 years at Walmart.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (152392)
• United States
18 Feb 23
@JudyEv Exactly! A lot of the older people I taught thanked me for being so patient when they didn't understand and I had to explain again.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (357282)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 23
@DaddyEvil Yes, that's very true and often older people as teachers are more patient and understand better where someone old might be coming from.
1 person likes this
@mayka123
@mayka123 (16972)
• India
19 Feb 23
Young people need to learn to spend more time with the elders.
Icydoll
@Icydoll (36713)
• India
18 Feb 23
The technology skills will be helpful for the older people to learn. My grandmother still shows interest to learn. We bought her a phone but she is not in a stage to handle it. We spend time with her.
1 person likes this
Shavkat
@Shavkat (140504)
• Philippines
18 Feb 23
I am sure she is so delighted to have it and willing to learn how to use it. I am not sure with my granny aged 104. I think she needs more time to be guided.
Adie
@Adie04 (17358)
•
20 Feb 23
I can't think of anything the young can pass to old ones. Mostly it's the opposite.
Virtually Tee
@Virtually2021 (828)
• Southend-On-Sea, England
18 Feb 23
Maybe skills like how to use smart meters for electricity and gas readings.
1 person likes this
Shavkat
@Shavkat (140504)
• Philippines
18 Feb 23
I think I need to learn that, too. I did give any attentions to these things. However, it is also a useful thing to know.
Anna
@LadyDuck (477996)
• Italy
18 Feb 23
Both my husband and I are not young, but we know very well how to use computers and smart phones, we are just annoyed that the world is becoming only technology. Old people like to slow down, talk with other people and be listened, that's it.