Older adults who find themselves living alone e time, they may wonder if being partnered is right for them, at this stage of their lives. Seniors Guide writer Terri L. Jones looks at some pros and cons of senior romance.
Recently, however, the show’s producers announced that their newest bachelor would be a little more, shall we say, experienced. “The Golden Bachelor,” as he’s being called, is 71!
Thankfully, “The Bachelor” isn’t alone in its mission to portray the romantic relationships of older adults. Recently, more and more seniors have been popping up on TV screens in show like “Shrinking,” “Severance,” and “Never Have I Ever,” ostensibly because producers recognize the opportunity to expand their audiences. (Baby boomers’ percentage of the population is neck and neck with millennials and Gen Z, who historically portray the coupled-up characters you find on TV.) In 2022, “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande,” starred Emma Thompson as a retired schoolteacher seeking the sensuality that her life had lacked.
But perhaps more importantly, representing love between older characters simply represents real life. It’s not your grandparents’ world anymore, where after a divorce or the death of a spouse, many just lived out their lives alone. While there are no statistics on how many seniors are dating nowadays, all you have to do is look at all the senior dating apps to know there are plenty of them out there!
So how is dating different now?
Your must-haves in a relationship definitely shift as you get older. Gone are the days when you choose to date someone just because of their looks or sex appeal. According to the “Dating and Love Among 55+ in 2021” survey conducted by Choice Mutual, trust was most seniors’ highest priority in a relationship, followed by honesty and communication. Read more