NEWS COPY
Forget the rocking-chair and slippers – today’s grandparents are more likely to be rocking out to Guns N’ Roses and going to the gym.
A study of 2,000 grandparents found six in 10 remember the ‘Swinging 60s’, with 43 per cent admitting they try to live their life as they did then.
And for the ‘golden oldies’ weaned on rock throughout the 60s and 70s, age is definitely not mellowing their musical tastes.
Heavy rock acts like Deep Purple, AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses trampled over easy listening and pop acts like Jess Glynne when it came to the most popular artists.
It also emerged more than half believe they don’t follow any grandparent ‘stereotypes’, with 45 per cent claiming they have never felt as carefree as they do now.
Verity Kick from Oak Tree Mobility, which commissioned the research, said: “Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can’t do certain things, as the research clearly shows.
“The phrase ’40 is the new 30’ has now shifted upwards, as people live longer – so in many ways, 60 is the new 30.
“Of course, this doesn’t apply to every grandparent, but our study has found many are enjoying their lives just as much as they did in their younger years.
“Mobility is hugely important to being able to enjoy life to the fullest. If you can move around your home and the world in comfort, it can feel like it takes years off your age.”
The research also found 60 per cent of grandparents feel they are actively doing a good job of changing people’s perceptions of what ‘old’ people are like.
Four in 10 don’t believe their grandkids see them as ‘old’, and three quarters don’t think they are anything like their own grandparents were at the same age.
One man to live life to its fullest is 84-year-old actor and great-grandfather Jack Warner.
After getting his first agent at 63, he has gone on to have minor roles in films such as Phantom of the Opera and Wimbledon, as well as appearing in music videos for Robbie Williams, Jamie Cullum and The Hoosiers.
Jack, from Alton in Hampshire, enjoyed acting as a youngster, but after his parents urged him to get a ‘proper job’ he spent 35 years working in the automotive industry before retiring at 60.
He said: “I noticed that a few of my retired friends were happy to sit and take life easy and I thought ‘there’s no way I’m doing that’ so, knowing how much I enjoyed acting, my wife of 63 years encouraged me to speak to an agent. So, I grabbed the bull by the horns.
“I was amazed how quickly I got a gig and I haven’t looked back - my job has taken me all over the world and to a host of impressive venues that I could only dream of visiting.”
He’s also proud of how savvy he is on social media and cites Facebook and Instagram as his go-to platforms; with the latter as it’s how the entertainment community engages with each other and he can share his work with his many followers.
He also counts indoor skydiving and helicopter rides among his favourite pursuits, goes for regular bike rides and long walks, and listens to music online - an eclectic mix of heavy metal through to opera.
Jack added: “Age is definitely a mindset – you mustn’t sit down and give in to it. My philosophy is ‘keep young and carry on’ which I intend to do for many more years to come.”
The study, carried out via OnePoll, also found that far from being dinosaurs when it comes to technology, social media is widely used by respondents.
Almost three quarters (73 per cent) use Facebook, 46 per cent watch YouTube videos and nearly a quarter are on Instagram.
But while 39 per cent confessed to feeling afraid of getting old when they were younger, 81 per cent admitted it hasn’t been nearly as bad as they thought it would be.
Verity Kick, from Oak Tree Mobility, added: “Lots of the younger generation are afraid of what it’s like getting older.
“This is partly due to stereotypes around old people, which is what we’re trying to change in the UK and beyond.
“Getting old doesn’t mean you have to stop doing the things you love, listening to music you like or even rocking out at gigs.
“Taking care of joints and your overall health in younger years will pay dividends when you get older – mobility will become one thing you can’t take for granted.”
ENDS
