7 things people over 60 still do that make them look out of touch with reality

Getting older doesn’t mean getting irrelevant. In fact, many people in their 60s and beyond are more vibrant, curious, and creative than ever before.

I’ve met 70-year-olds who run marathons, launch new businesses, and travel the world with more energy than people half their age.

But let’s be honest—there are also habits and mindsets that can make someone seem stuck in another era.

Looking out of touch doesn’t come from age alone—it comes from clinging too tightly to the way things “used to be.”

The world keeps moving, and those who adapt with it tend to stay sharp and respected, while those who resist end up looking disconnected.

Here are a few things people over 60 sometimes still do that unintentionally make them seem like they’ve lost their grip on the present.

1. Clinging to outdated technology

We all know someone who still proudly carries a flip phone or insists their decade-old desktop “works just fine.”

The problem isn’t just the hardware—it’s the mindset that refuses to engage with the digital tools most people now see as essential.

Technology shapes how we connect, work, and even maintain independence. Avoiding it completely can make someone look not just old-fashioned but isolated.

According to research, older adults who embrace smartphones and social media report higher levels of connectedness to friends and family compared to those who resist them.

I once had a neighbor in his mid-60s who refused to use email. Everything with him was done through phone calls or handwritten notes slipped under doors.

Charming? Sure. But he missed out on invitations and updates simply because no one thought to reach him outside digital channels.

2. Dismissing mental health conversations

For many people over 60, therapy and mental health care were stigmatized when they were growing up. Feelings were supposed to be tucked away, and anyone struggling was told to “toughen up.”

That attitude hasn’t aged well.

In contrast, younger generations talk openly about anxiety, depression, and trauma, and there’s widespread understanding now that mental health is just as real as physical health.

When someone scoffs at therapy or dismisses others as “too sensitive,” it signals they’re out of step with how society views emotional well-being today.

The irony is that many older adults could benefit enormously from dropping the stigma.

Life transitions after 60—retirement, loss, health changes—are huge stressors. Talking about them openly doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human.

3. Relying only on cash or checks

There’s nothing wrong with preferring cash, but insisting on using it exclusively can create unnecessary barriers.

In a world where most people tap their phone to pay, digging through a checkbook at the counter doesn’t just slow things down—it makes you look resistant to change.

Digital payments aren’t just about convenience. They’ve become part of the infrastructure of modern life.

From online shopping to automatic bill pay, avoiding them entirely makes everyday tasks harder and sometimes impossible.

I once watched an older couple in line at the grocery store argue with a cashier because they didn’t believe the store should be “card only.” They weren’t wrong to want options, but their refusal to adapt left them frustrated and embarrassed in public.

Related: 8 things you should always keep private, according to psychology

4. Making sweeping generalizations about younger generations

“Kids these days don’t know how to work.” “No one respects tradition anymore.” “Everyone’s glued to their phone.”

Sound familiar? These sweeping statements are a quick way to make younger people tune out.

Every generation criticizes the one that comes after, but holding onto those clichés creates distance instead of connection.

I remember sitting at a family barbecue where an uncle launched into a lecture about “millennials killing industries.”

My cousin, who was juggling a full-time job and grad school, quietly rolled her eyes. Our uncle didn’t realize he was undermining his own wisdom by sounding like a broken record.

5. Wearing clothes or hairstyles that froze in time

Style evolves, and holding onto the exact look you had in your 30s isn’t always flattering decades later.

Like it or not, what we wear impacts not only how others perceive us but how we feel about ourselves.

Outdated haircuts, ill-fitting jeans, or wardrobe choices that scream another era can make someone appear disconnected, even if they’re otherwise sharp and engaged.

This doesn’t mean older adults need to chase every new trend. But small updates—modern eyeglass frames, a refreshed haircut, clothes that actually fit—signal vitality rather than nostalgia. 

6. Talking down to younger people

One thing that instantly signals being out of touch is speaking to younger generations as if they’re children who need constant correction.

Comments like “you’ll understand when you’re older” or dismissing someone’s struggles because they’re “too young to know real problems” don’t land the way they used to.

Younger people today navigate challenges older generations never faced—student debt, digital overload, a shifting job market, and housing costs that are through the roof. When their concerns are minimized, it creates distance instead of understanding.

I saw this play out with a retired teacher I knew. He constantly told his adult grandchildren that their jobs in tech “weren’t real work” compared to his decades in the classroom.

Instead of respecting his wisdom, they avoided deep conversations with him altogether. His refusal to validate their experiences cut him off from connecting meaningfully.

Respect across generations is a two-way street. The older adults who stay most relevant are the ones who listen with curiosity, not condescension.

7. Romanticizing “the good old days” in every conversation

Nostalgia is a beautiful thing, but when every conversation circles back to “the good old days,” it can make someone seem stuck.

Constantly comparing today to decades past—always in favor of the past—gives the impression you’ve given up on the present.

Younger people often feel dismissed when every modern experience is met with “things were better back then.” It shuts down dialogue and creates generational divides. 

A mentor of mine in his 60s struck the perfect balance. He’d share stories about hitchhiking across the country in the 70s, but he was equally curious about new apps, books, and cultural shifts. His willingness to mix past and present made him magnetic, not outdated.

Final thoughts

Looking out of touch isn’t inevitable after 60. It’s not age that creates the gap—it’s attitude.

The people who stay relevant are the ones who adapt, stay curious, and remain open to learning, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

If you recognize yourself in any of these habits, don’t panic. Small shifts make a big difference: learn a new app, update your wardrobe, ask a grandchild to show you how they manage digital life.

Every adjustment signals not just that you’re keeping up, but that you respect the world as it is now.

The goal isn’t to be trendy or pretend you’re younger than you are. The goal is to stay connected, engaged, and present. And that’s something people of any age can choose to do.