60% of grandparents say life is better now
It seems the age old saying “back in the good days” is no longer ringing true for the older generation. A new survey shows that baby boomers are no longer nostalgic about the past, with six in 10 grandparents saying their quality of life was better than their parents’ generation, and that the benefits of modern life has improved their lives overall.
The survey of 1,200 British grandparents by Retirement Move found the internet, cheap travel, cars, television and healthcare are among the modern development that make life better. Nearly 80 per cent said that online shopping, online banking, and the many ways of online communication with friends and family had greatly benefited their lives. The top technologies grandparents said they were glad to have these days included email, digital cameras and Google.
However, while the majority of boomers say life has improved since their youth there are a few things that were still better in the “good old days”. Things like telemarketing calls, junk mail and bad manners have gone downhill in modern times.
Richard Drew, CEO of Retirement Move, said, “Grandparents don't seem to want to turn back time. The results suggest there's never been a greater time to be retired.
“They also show the perception older people think everything used to be better isn't true. Retirement may have been approached with a little trepidation in the past, but now it's rightfully something to look forward to thanks in part to advances in technology, healthcare and more.”
Related links:
Top 10 life lessons kids learn from grandparents
Why the grandparent grandchild relationship is important for happiness
These dogs have no concept of personal space