re: As a manager, how do you manage people way older than you?

I preferred to hire older people, they tend to make for better workers.

Did some of them dislike being ordered around by a younger person? Yeah, but I treated them with respect and more often than not they returned in kind.

Some will often complain about the way things are done compared to previous employment but then it's a matter of evaluating if they are right or not. Often times they have been around long enough to have seen something attempted and actual work that can apply to your current workplace. Even if they are just bitching about having to do things differently, I get 30yos doing the exact same shite.

I also find my older employees appreciation that I am willing to roll up my sleeves and get into the thick of things with them when needed instead of just being a desk jockey all day.

In 20+ years of management, 50 & 60yo often outwork the 18-23yo crowd.