Behind every senior citizen is a library that may never be read.
Older adults are not just elders—they are pillars of our society, carrying the torch of tacit knowledge forged through decades of lived experience. Behind every senior citizen is a library that may never be read, a repository of life-tested wisdom, judgment, and skill.
In our race toward innovation, disruption, and speed, we often celebrate the new while quietly discarding the old. But what if, in accelerating toward the future, we are losing society’s memory?
TACIT knowledge -- a term popularized by Michael Polanyi (1966)—is the deeply rooted, intuitive wisdom that cannot be fully articulated, codified, or transferred through manuals. It is learned only through lived experience, trial and error, resilience, and the slow cultivation of human understanding. Unlike explicit knowledge, which is easily written down and stored, tacit knowledge vanishes when its holder is gone.
The SECI model developed by Nonaka & Takeuchi (1995) reinforces this: "tacit knowledge is a cornerstone of innovation, serving as the foundation upon which new ideas are built." Without it, younger generations risk reinventing the wheel—or worse, repeating avoidable mistakes.
In workplaces, older professionals preserve the organizational memory that guides sound decision-making. In communities, elders safeguard cultural identity, values, and ancestral wisdom. Yet in a youth-driven, technology-obsessed world, this living archive is too often undervalued until it disappears entirely.
The challenge is urgent: we must act now to ensure that this treasure is not buried with those who hold it.
Data and Discussion
Globally, the World Health Organization (2022) estimates that the population aged 60 and above will double from 1 billion in 2020 to 2.1 billion by 2050. In Southeast Asia, the United Nations ESCAP (2021) reports that by 2040, one in four people will be over 60, signaling an unprecedented demographic shift.
Yet, according to the OECD Skills Outlook (2023), over 60% of older workers report that their skills and experience are underutilized in the workplace. Simultaneously, many retirees express a desire to remain engaged in meaningful activities that allow them to contribute to society. This mismatch is a lost opportunity—for both economic productivity and cultural continuity.
Tacit Knowledge in Practice:
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- Craftsmanship & Trade Skills: Master artisans, farmers, and engineers often know instinctively when a material is flawed or when conditions are optimal—knowledge acquired only through years of observation and practice.
- Negotiation & Leadership: Senior managers can “read a room” and sense political undercurrents in ways that data analytics cannot replicate.
- Cultural Storytelling: Elders often hold oral histories and traditions that bind communities together.
Technological acceleration has widened the generation gap.
A 2023 Pew Research Center study shows that younger generations are adept at digital skills but may lack historical context, situational judgment, and interpersonal wisdom—competencies older adults excel in.
The "loss of tacit knowledge" is not just cultural—it is economic. A 2022 Harvard Business Review article notes that companies with active knowledge-transfer programs outperform peers in innovation by up to 30%. Without deliberate efforts, organizations and societies alike risk knowledge erosion, leading to repeated costly mistakes.
Conclusions from Sources
Conclusion 1 – From the World Health Organization (2022):
Older adults should not be seen merely as beneficiaries of social support, but as active contributors to society. Their involvement in mentorship programs, civic activities, and policy consultation can strengthen community resilience and intergenerational solidarity.
Conclusion 2 – From Nonaka & Takeuchi’s SECI Model (1995):
Tacit knowledge, once lost, cannot be easily reconstructed. Successful innovation depends on continuous conversion between tacit and explicit knowledge—a process that requires intentional interaction between generations. Without elder participation, the knowledge cycle breaks.
Author’s Insight: Unlocking the Tacit Knowledge Trade
To truly safeguard and harness the wisdom of our aging population, we must build structured platforms for intergenerational exchange—a trade-off of tacit and emerging knowledge. Imagine a system where elders offer mentorship in life skills, leadership, and cultural continuity, while younger participants provide tutorials on digital literacy, new market trends, and emerging technologies.
This exchange creates a symbiotic bridge:
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- For elders: A renewed sense of relevance, purpose, and belonging.
- For youth: Accelerated maturity, contextual intelligence, and access to wisdom that cannot be Googled.
Storytelling circles, cross-generational apprenticeships, and community mentorship hubs can become catalysts for this trade. These programs would not just preserve memory—they would weave it into the living fabric of society.
Because when wisdom dies in silence, so does progress. But when it is shared, society gains both roots and wings. The aging population is not a burden to be managed—it is a strategic asset to be unlocked.
And perhaps the greatest innovation we can achieve is ensuring that every “living library” is read before its final chapter closes.
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Authors Note & Research Statement:
© 2025 by Mariza L. Lendez. All rights reserved. www.chikicha.com
This article "The Silent Struggle of Retired Men: Why Isolation is a Hidden Crisis" is form part of my dissertation. All materials herein are protected by copyright and academic intellectual property laws. No part of this work may be reproduced, published, or distributed in whole or in part without express written permission from the author, except for academic citation or fair use with proper attribution.
Based on verified data, peer-reviewed literature, and insights from national and global agencies and with the help of AI for deep research.
Citation Format
Lendez, Mariza (2025). [The Wisdom We Keep Ignoring - Unlocking the Tacit Knowledge of the Aging Population] In "Designing a Purpose-Driven Retirement Model Based on the IKIGAI Philosophy" (unpublished dissertation). Philippine Women's University. [URL]
References
A1. World Health Organization. (2024, October 1). Ageing and health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health World Health Organization
2. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Ageing presents both challenges and opportunities [Public health overview]. https://www.who.int/health-topics/ageing World Health Organization
3. Polanyi, M. (1966). The tacit dimension. Routledge & Kegan Paul.
4. Grant, K. A. (2007). Tacit knowledge revisited – We can still learn from Polanyi. The Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 5(2), 173–180. ResearchGate
5. Nonaka, I., & Takeuchi, H. (1995). The knowledge-creating company: How Japanese companies create the dynamics of innovation. Oxford University Press. Wikipedia
6. Lejeune, M. (2011). Tacit knowledge revisited: “Knowing how” and tacit knowledge in practice. Revue des sciences de l’éducation de McGill, 46(1), 95–113. McGill Journal of Education
7. Kuyken, K., & Schropp, R. (2023). Rethinking intergenerational knowledge transmission in the context of Industry 4.0. Management International / Revue de gestion internationale, 27(6), Article 09032.
Thanks #Franz26, #Jankosmowski, # ThMilherou, #Sasint @Pixabay for these photos.