18
April
2018
|
00:00
Australia/Melbourne

Older, wiser and getting stuff done

Who can start a campfire? Who can bake better? Who can fix a bike chain? Find out in Bupa's inter-generational survey.

When he was well into his cycling career, Italian legend Fausto Coppi is believed to have been asked about the threat younger rivals to his position at the top of the sport.

The response is now legendary. 'Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.'

While that's a more extreme example, Bupa UK has released research showing older generations still lead the way in getting stuff done.

The poll of 2,000 adults compared some practical skills.

Joan Elliott, Managing Director at Bupa Care Homes in the UK says, if you think you need to know, a good way to learn some of these skills is easy: Ask.

“There’s so much we can learn from our older generations, but there’s 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.

Here's are some of the things you can learn from somone who's been around a bit longer.

Activity

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55+

The number of pounds in a stone

44.86%

52.05%

53.44%

71.82%

90.42%

How to read the time on an analogue clock

61.21%

60.82%

68.75%

77.07%

90.42%

The number of feet in a yard

17.76%

21.05%

29.69%

45.03%

90.29%

How to manage money

50.93%

52.34%

60.31%

73.76%

85.56%

How to iron a shirt

52.34%

50.88%

56.56%

72.10%

84.12%

How to sew on a button

39.72%

41.23%

47.50%

67.96%

81.36%

How to do times tables, without using a calculator

50%

40.64%

48.44%

64.36%

79.27%

How to use an index

32.71%

35.09%

44.38%

61.60%

77.30%

How to properly polish shoes

29.44%

28.36%

40%

57.73%

77.03%

How to use cutlery in the right order

46.26%

39.18%

46.88%

61.60%

77.03%

How to write a formal letter

46.73%

42.98%

48.44%

63.54%

76.77%

How to wire a plug

16.82%

20.76%

39.06%

58.29%

72.97%

How to spell without using spellcheck

47.20%

38.60%

48.75%

59.39%

72.05%

How to lay a table properly

40.65%

38.89%

49.38%

53.87%

70.47%

How and when to use correct grammar - such as 'who', 'whom', 'whose' or 'who's

46.73%

38.89%

47.19%

55.52%

67.19%

How to garden

27.10%

21.93%

40.63%

46.96%

65.62%

How long fresh foods keep for

30.84%

28.07%

42.81%

50%

62.60%

How to treat a burn

41.59%

32.46%

43.44%

50%

61.55%

How to get stains out of clothes

35.51%

31.29%

35.94%

48.07%

58.40%

How to read an ordnance survey map

21.96%

23.98%

36.56%

45.58%

58.27%

The number of centimetres in an inch

34.11%

33.04%

38.44%

49.17%

57.09%

The collection times for your local post box

17.76%

17.54%

26.25%

35.08%

54.46%

The names of different birds

18.22%

16.96%

26.56%

36.74%

47.77%

How to repair worn or broken clothing

21.96%

16.96%

24.69%

38.95%

46.72%

How to tie a sling or bandage

22.90%

18.13%

27.50%

36.74%

45.14%

How to play chess

27.57%

27.19%

31.56%

44.48%

43.70%

How to administer first aid

28.50%

29.53%

35.94%

37.29%

43.44%

How to change a car tyre

15.42%

24.27%

29.69%

38.12%

43.18%

How to make a cake without following a recipe

24.77%

27.19%

32.81%

34.25%

42.78%

The price of a first class stamp

19.16%

19.88%

25%

30.94%

40.68%

The number of kilometres in a mile

26.64%

25.44%

30.31%

33.98%

37.27%

How to identify plants and flowers by name

12.15%

12.87%

18.13%

24.03%

37.14%

How to arrange flowers

18.22%

16.08%

21.88%

22.65%

34.38%

How to fix a bike chain

21.03%

21.35%

30.31%

29.28%

34.25%

How to start a campfire

20.56%

18.71%

21.25%

33.70%

32.68%

How to make marmalade or jam

13.55%

15.50%

17.50%

18.51%

31.10%

How to guess the weight of ingredients by looking at them

16.36%

16.96%

20%

20.17%

24.54%

How to crochet

8.41%

4.39%

7.81%

10.50%

22.57%

How to ballroom dance e.g. Waltz or Tango

5.14%

3.51%

3.13%

6.08%

15.35%

The names of different constellations of stars

11.21%

10.82%

11.25%

12.15%

15.09%

How to mend a car engine

4.67%

5.26%

6.25%

8.84%

10.24%

None of the above

9.35%

6.73%

5.63%

2.76%

0.92%