1 + 1 = 2 – The Numbers Can’t Be Wrong
Dating for the senior citizen is awesome on many levels. Companionship is good for the body and soul. This includes romantic companionship, as well. Don’t let negative people steer you wrong. Dating is – physically, emotionally, and spiritually great for you. Engaging in romantic relationships is better than living a solitary life in every way imaginable or real.
Learning about someone’s culture, experiences and background is another great advantage of dating. In your younger years, you may have been too busy dealing with work and family to give dating a serious chance. Now you have time on your hands. Why not fill it with learning about someone interesting who is interested in you?
In fact, according to a Time.com article, companionship is downright good for ya! For the sake of being on the same page, we will equate it as follows:
Dating = Companionship = Marriage
The bottom line is
BEING TOGETHER WITH SOMEONE
One instance of how things have changed is how common-law marriages have become more popular. People who are in a relationship have a better prognosis for a longer life.
Though dating is different from being married, it’s usually the end goal, especially as we get older. Why play games? Dating for the sake of dating is whimsy! What is the endgame?
Dating for the senior citizen is awesome on many levels. Companionship is good for the body and soul. This includes romantic companionship as well. Don’t let negative people steer you wrong. Dating is – physically, emotionally, and spiritually great for you. Engaging in romantic relationships is better than living a solitary life in every way imaginable or real.
Generally, We Date So That We Can Get Married
The Times article goes on to outline a study published by the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. Researchers found that folks who never got married were at least twice as likely to die early. The takeaway from this is, according to research, “being married is a big factor in survivorship”, Martin, the major researcher, came to this conclusion.
Married heart disease patients were observed to have better outcomes than single ones. Cancer was detected earlier in married people, as well.
People who study longevity found that the constant emotional and physical support that is part of a romantic relationship goes a long way in living longer. Reminders by a loved one – especially a romantically involved loved one to:
- Take your medicine
- Attend your physicals
- Eat better
- Exercise…
make all the difference.
Support in terms of companionship goes back to the beginning of time. Adam wasn’t there too long before Eve came along!
Don’t fight the urge to date!! It’s just the way humans are designed. Though affairs of the heart are usually not brain-centered, you can be smart about them!
Dating is a fun and exciting prospect, no matter your age. Once you’re an adult, of course!
Seriously, since you’ve turned the big 18, dating should have been a healthy part of your life- well, until you settled down.
Settling down means you find your romantic companion for life. As a result, dating has become exclusive – if you want to keep on the right side of things. At that point, throw this guide away. Just delete it! You went fishing, you caught something, now it’s time to enjoy it. Keeping the romance alive within your marriage is a whole different guide. This guide is for single senior citizens.
Now that you may be getting closer to turning the big 81, dating is just as healthy for you, as long as you’re not married.
It’s simply a win-win situation!
Staying open-minded when it comes to senior dating is the key. Don’t bring in all of the baggage from your past. Make a new start.
In this dating for the senior citizen guide, you will explore the world of dating as it pertains to you. Consider this a deep dive into the world of dating for seniors. In this guide, you will find sensible information on how to go about it.
Health Concerns Involved With Dating For The Senior Citizen
As we age, our health can be a pressing concern. When it comes to dating, health can be a consideration. You should never let your health prevent you from dating. There are ways and means to get around any health concern.
STD’s & The Senior Citizen Population
The numbers of senior citizens contracting STDs or sexually transmitted diseases are staggering. Mass infections in senior living facilities have been recorded. The mindset is that, since pregnancy is not an issue, why not engage fully? Getting older doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying sex. However, you have to be smart about this. Just because pregnancy is not a concern at a certain age, sexually transmitted diseases are. You still have to practice safe sex in your senior years. This means using condoms and/or the female version, which are called internal condoms. Both sexes can use dental dams for oral sex. You are responsible for protecting yourself. These days you can also access online STD testing options for peace of mind.
Don’t leave your life in another person’s hands.
Do Physical Ailments Get In The Way of Dating?
Physical challenges due to medical issues can be a dating challenge. However, it should not be the reason you do not date. People who are suffering from some type of physical problem such as:
- Arthritis
- Sciatica
- Generalized, non-specific aches or pains…
…may make getting around to see a romantic partner difficult. Challenges to your finances – In other words -being broke may make it harder to get out and date.
Take advantage of the benefits of your older age. There are some things you can get for free. You can get transportation for socialization or dating in some communities for free or low cost. You also may qualify for a free cellphone or internet service through EASY Wireless. This can make staying in touch with a sweetie, easier.
If you’re suffering from a mental or physical illness, companionship can be the cure-all. We’re not saying that you don’t need to take care of whatever ails you. It’s just that a smile is the best medicine. The importance of companionship is just as great. They may need it more than people who are not ill. People in nursing homes and assisted living facilities may be far away from their families. They may desire companionship greatly. You may be in this situation yourself, as you read this. Know that you are not alone and that you should not be alone. Dating is for you too.
Socialization is for you too. It may be more difficult, you may have to get help with doing certain things, but it doesn’t mean you should count yourself out. You should open yourself up to the possibility of having a romantic companion.
Moving Around - All In The Name Of Love
The Eldercare Locator can help you find out about a lot of resources that can make your physical challenges easier to cope with. Access-A-Ride and other transportation resources can help you get around. Mobility devices such as:
- Wheelchairs
- Walkers
- Assistive Canes
- Mobility Scooters
- Crutches
- Stairlifts
- Knee scooters
- Motorized wheelchairs
…can help. Don’t let difficulty getting around or a low income stop you. You can still benefit from:
- Enjoying a concert in the park
- Going out for a walk hand in hand
- Riding around town with a loving companion
This is just the thing the doctor ordered.
Mental Health Concerns With Dating For The Senior Citizen
Depression, isolation, and loneliness are mental monsters that attack seniors in a major way. These monsters are real diseases, chemical imbalances, and other real organic issues. Do not dismiss them. Get the help you need to regain your mental health. Take a look at our deep dive into seniors and their health concerns by following this link.
The loss of family, a significant other, health challenges, changes in employment, changes in residence, etc. – the list goes on and on. Seniors, you face a lot of unwanted and unexpected changes. It’s just a consequence of living life. Dating is not a substitute for mental health treatment. However, dating could be just the right pick-me-up to make you feel more desired and wanted. Dating can make seniors feel like they matter again.
OK, You Checked In On Your Health, Let's Get This Party Started
We all know the feeling – at the dance party, wedding reception, or wherever the music is about to be played – of excitement. Something is about to happen. You are about to embark on the world of dating. Good for you! It is better for you than you think.
Online Dating For Seniors
Dating technology has advanced greatly since you’ve been out on the playing field. Here is a great opportunity to take advantage of the advances. Social media is a great way to reconnect with old friends or flames. TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter are great easy ways to potentially find wholesome companionship. Always be careful of scams, however.
According to dating advice.com, some dating sites are especially designed for senior citizens.
- Silver Singles
- Our Time
- Date My Age
These sites are especially good for people over the age of 50. They also offer some great advice for senior citizens and dating concerns. Some of this advice includes:
- Tell the honest truth – embrace your age, don’t use photos that are ancient – put your beautiful current photo online and be honest about your age.
- Some of the information that the online dating profile is asking may seem like a lot. You deserve to take your time. This is all about you and finding the right person for you. Answer all of the questions truthfully. Don’t fantasize about what you might like things to be like. Again, tell the truth and tell it fully. Skipping questions or answering falsely will alter the profile. You might end up with someone you don’t like because you were not honest.
- The next piece of advice for online dating for seniors is the same advice for people of any age– Write a meaningful first message. You can keep it brief – maybe three or five sentences for the first one – but make it as great as possible. The site goes on to recommend that you pose a question in your first message or make a statement about something they said in their profile. As you get to know the prospective person, you may write longer messages.
- First dates should happen as soon as you and the other party feel comfortable. You may not have done this in a long time and it’s natural to feel a lot of pressure. The site recommends that you take the pressure off by having the first date as soon as you and the other party are comfortable. Don’t make this a last chance, last dance sort of situation. Chances are you will see this person again, so you don’t have to get everything right in the first meeting. The site recommends that you tell yourself “You’re meeting someone new for coffee”. Try to make the date as fun and carefree as possible. It can be simple. Don’t spend lots of money or make it too fancy.
- In all of your online dating encounters, remember to be safe
There are financial predators out there who are looking for seniors to pray upon. Take a look at our article about avoiding potential romantic-based scams by looking at our guide on financial predators.
Power Dating - Yeah, It's A Thing
Power dating is having as many dates in a short period of time with as many people as possible. In this manner, you can find out if you have compatibility with someone quicker and move on quickly as well.
There are a lot of new nuances that have been added to dating since you may have been single. It’s OK to do your research on a person and on how to go about dating before you plunge in.
Good Ole Fashioned - Running Into Someone On The Street
You’ve heard of online dating, right? For those who answer “no”, you just read about online dating in the last section. Time for a stretch. Well, have you ever heard about on-street dating? Back in the day -our day, you’d meet that someone special right there on the street. Maybe that girl or guy sitting behind you in your classroom or the cutie on the next bar stool at Woolworths or the corner store could be your girlfriend or boyfriend. Believe it or not, that sort of thing can still happen to you, senior citizen. You can start dating someone you just happen to bump into on the street.
Assisted Living Facility or Peyton Play Place?
We sure are dating ourselves – pun intended – with that “Peyton Place” reference, huh? Living in a residence where everyone is just around your age could be a great conversation starter as well as a dating hooker-upper. However, it’s important to always practice safety in your encounters. Being a senior does not mean you should practice reckless behavior. As discussed earlier, sexually transmitted diseases sometimes run rampant in senior residences.
It may not be a great idea to date someone that you live close to and then the relationship doesn’t work. Now you have to see the person frequently and it may feel uncomfortable. As always, practice caution and take advantage of the great things about senior residences.
Living next to people you have a lot of things in common with can bring a lot of needed comfort and familiarity at a time when you don’t have much.
Access to convenient socialization that may be inexpensive and themed especially for your generation, is a great advantage of a senior living residence. Naturally, you may find someone that you’re interested in romantically. Just be aware of the pros and cons and proceed with caution.
Maximizing Your Love Connection
Taking selfies with your love cannot be easier than using a cell phone provided through EASY Wireless. Keeping connected with him or her, and keeping and possessing a chronicle of your relationship, are just two of the reasons why having free internet service and an accessible cell phone is beneficial to your dating life.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is the government‘s way of making sure cell phones are accessible to all who need them.
The ACP is part and parcel of the Federal Communications Commission. Benefits are available to those who may use the following programs:
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Pell Grant Awards
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps or SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
EASY Wireless uses these benefits to support the free cell phone service and free Internet service. The professional and friendly staff can walk you through the process of how the program works. They can let you know if you qualify, and how you can benefit from the available programs. Click the link to see if you or someone you love should make EASY Wireless their cell phone resource.
So, Seniors, You Have The Information Dive Right Into Dating
Dive into dating. Dive into leading a fuller life.
Here’s to making a connection and finding that special someone!
For More Helpful Tips
For more helpful and useful tips check out our comprehensive guide titled, Senior Citizens – Guide for Living Your Best Life.
