As I thought about a number of relatives recently, I thought about myself at their age. To take that perspective usually brings understanding with regard to people's choices, experiences, needs, and wants.
How do you go back in time lack that.
I begin by imagining where I lived, who I lived with, and what I was doing. Then I think about the happy and not-so-happy times at that stage as well as the decisions I had to make. Taking that perspective brings light and positivity towards dealing with loved ones and others at the stage they are in. This is far better than simply comparing your stage now to others in different stages. When people do that, we hear the tiresome age-old laments signaling that life was better or people were wider before.
To bring yourself back to a similar stage in life before commenting or analyzing a situation brings far greater empathy and support, and that's good.