One of the best things about questions to ask old people is that it’s a great way to learn valuable insights from people who’ve lived rich and interesting lives.
Whether you’re young, or a fully-fledged adult, there’s always much you can learn from your elders. That’s why we’ve provided a useful list of reminiscing questions for seniors.
Our questions for old people are geared toward asking them about what life was like when they were young, their achievements, regrets and what they think of today’s world are topics that will lead to some fascinating conversations.
These questions to ask the elderly will lead to some valuable insights that you can apply to your own life too.
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Table of Contents
Thought-Provoking Questions To Ask Old People
1. As I get older, do you think I’m getting more like you?
2. What invention during your lifetime were you most amazed at?
3. What are some of the most rewarding things about getting older?
4. Who’s one person that influenced your life the most, and why?
5. Knowing what you do, what’s the most significant life advice you could give someone growing up now?
6. Looking back, what choices would you have changed if you had the chance?
7. What modern technology have you found most helpful in your life?
8. Which was your favorite decade during your life and why?
9. Is there anything you wish you’d asked your parents before they passed away?
10. What little things in life do you start to appreciate more as you get older?
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- Existential questions
- Philosophical questions
- Topics to talk about
- Funny questions to ask
- Deep questions
11. If you could go back to your 20s, would you have done anything differently?
12. Is there anywhere you would love to visit, but never had the chance to?
13. What’s one of the earliest lessons that you learnt in life growing up?
14. Do you think the world is in a better place now than it was when you were younger?
15. What famous world events can you remember happening?
16. Have your values changed as you got older?
17. Do you remember any trends or fads from your youth?
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18. If you could return to any place in the world that you’ve already been to, where would it be?
19. In one word, how would you describe the current generation of people?
20. What was in fashion when you were growing up?
21. How would you like to be remembered by people close to you?
22. What world events had the most significant impact on your life?
23. What did you do for fun when you were growing up?
24. What do children take for granted now that you never had growing up?
25. What’s a place you’d love to visit that you’ve not had a chance to yet?
26. Which decade of your life had the best fashion?
27. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learnt?
28. What do you think will be the biggest challenges for the current generation as they get older?
29. What five things do you think are the most important in life?
30. Can you name five things you think everyone should experience in their life?
31. Can you tell me about the best three days of your life and what made them so special?
32. What were the most pivotal moments during your life?
If you’re enjoying an interesting conversation with an elderly family member, you might like the Family Table Topics Game available on Amazon. It gives lots of prompts that can be used to have an interesting conversation and talk about things you wouldn’t usually think of!
Funny And Light-Hearted Questions To Ask Old People
33. If you could be reincarnated as an animal, what would you like to be and why?
34. What’s your favorite movie of all time?
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35. Did you have pets when you were a child?
36. What sports or activities did/do you enjoy doing the most?
37. What has been the best vacation you’ve been on?
38. If you had to pick a food to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
39. What was the first movie you saw in the theatre?
40. What was your favorite thing to watch on TV growing up?
41. Which decade of your life had the worst fashion and hairstyles?
42. Did you have a best friend growing up?
43. Does life really go as fast as people say?
44. What’s one of your favorite memories with your friends?
45. As a family growing up, did you go on many vacations?
46. What was your most memorable family vacation?
47. How many countries have you travelled to?
48. What has been your scariest memory when it comes to travelling?
49. Did you receive pocket money or an allowance from your parents as a child?
50. Now you’re older, what is your opinion on money?
51. What’s the longest trip you’ve been on?
Next: Open-ended questions
52. Do you remember going on a plane for the first time?
53. What has been one of the most embarrassing moments of your life?
54. What has been the best day of your life?
55. What was life like when you were a child? Can you describe how much things have
changed?
56. What are some funny jokes for older people you know?
Life Questions To Ask An Old Person
57. What year were you born?
58. What town did you grow up in?
59. What was your/was your birth name?
60. Did you have any nicknames growing up?
61. How many siblings did you have?
62. Can you tell me about a person that influenced the course of your life and how?
63. What achievement in your life are you most proud of?
64. Did you ever play any musical instruments?
65. What’s the best way you could spend any weekend?
66. Did you have a lot of money growing up?
67. What did your parents do for work?
68. Do you have fond memories of your childhood?
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69. What was your least favorite job during your life?
70. Do you know any other languages?
71. What challenges did your family face while you were growing up?
72. At what age did you get your first job?
73. Were you raised in a religious household?
74. Did your view towards work-life balance change as you moved through life?
75. Have you ever not been able to afford to eat and gone hungry?
76. How old were you when you moved out of home?
77. Which country you’ve visited had the best cuisine?
78. Is there anyone from your life who you lost contact with, that you’d love to hear from?
79. Who was your most incredible role model growing up?
80. Which decade of your life had the best and worst music?
81. Tell me about the worst holiday you’ve ever been on?
82. Have you ever had a run-in with the law?
83. Do you think your life up to this point has been adventurous?
84. What has been the worst thing to have been invented in your lifetime?
85. What type of upbringing did your parents have?
Next: Questions to ask friends
86. Did you have a childhood sweetheart?
87. Where did you go on your first date with your future spouse?
88. What did you remember initially finding attractive about your spouse?
89. Who’s your favorite actor/actress of all time?
90. At what age did you get married?
91. What have been your favorite memories of being married?
92. What’s the secret of a long-lasting and happy marriage?
93. How did your career shape you as a person?
94. Who’s your favorite musical artist of all time?
95. What did you think when you found out you were going to be a parent?
96. What has been the hardest thing for you growing old?
97. Did your political views change as you moved through life?
98. What has been the proudest moment of your life so far?
99. Did you remain close to your siblings while you grew up?
100. Tell me about the best holiday you’ve ever been on?
101. What have been some of the scariest moments of your life?
102. What ambitions do you have for your life now?
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103. Do you have a long-lost love?
104. Did you and your family celebrate special occasions? If so, how did you used to celebrate them?
105. What was the first car you owned? Can you describe it to me?
106. Were you a good child growing up, or were you naughty?
107. Did you ever break your parent’s rules? If so, what happened?
108. Is there anything you’ve kept a secret that you’ve always wanted to tell me?
109. What was the worst thing you got in trouble for?
110. Did you ever write a bucket list? If so, how much have you done on it?
111. What has been one of the most challenging moments of your life so far?
112. What advice would you give to someone in their 20s today?
113. What was the strangest trend/fad you can remember?
114. Do you know much about your family tree?
115. What has been the most rewarding thing about getting older?
116. If you could go back to any age, what would it be and why?
117. What do you think it takes to be truly happy?
118. Do you see yourself staying in the same house you’re in now for the rest of your life?
119. What was your favorite meal growing up?
Next: Embarrassing questions
120. Is there any food you can no longer get now that you miss?
121. Do you live a comfortable life now on your pension and savings?
Questions To Ask Old People If They Served In The Military
122. What military service did you join? Army, Navy or Airforce
123. Why did you pick that service?
124. What rank did you achieve?
125. What did your typical day entail?
126. What did you enjoy most about your military career?
127. How well do you think films and TV shows do at recreating life in the military?
128. Did you decide to enlist, or were you drafted?
129. Did you see any combat in your military career?
130. How did this experience affect you as a person?
131. What are you most proud of in your military career?
132. Did you ever pick up an injury from your time in the military?
133. What did you and your colleagues do for entertainment?
134. Do you have any photos from your time in the military?
135. Did you ever keep notes or letters that you wrote during your time in the military?
136. Did you have any close military friends? If so, do you still keep in contact with them?
137. Do you keep your uniform?
138. Did you keep any other memorabilia?
139. What did military life teach you most?
140. Did your parents approve of you joining?
Looking For More Questions?
Thought provoking questions – Ask these questions to your grandparents and you’re sure to get some interesting answers.
Campfire questions – A set of talking points you can use next time you’re out in the wild.
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