Four Dating Strategies for Seniors
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an increasing number of seniors are staying alone as they age — 45 percent of Americans in their 50s and 60s are single today, compared to less than 30 percent in 1960.
Is dating as a senior difficult? It can be, but dating experts will tell you that every age group faces a unique blend of obstacles when searching for that special someone. Among the dating concerns unique to seniors are cultural differences, inexperience being single and less practice dating online.
If you’re a senior in search of companionship, check out the strategies below to get back into dating without getting into trouble.
PREPARE yourself
Before you hop into the dating pool, be sure to spend time critically thinking about what you want to achieve. It’s also essential that you do some introspection and resolve any unsolved issues you might have from previous relationships or other related experiences.
Preparation could also include establishing your boundaries, setting your standards for a relationship, and working on your appearance. Whatever changes you decide to undergo, remember, the goal is to feel good about yourself. Natural confidence is always attractive.
PRACTICE patience
Social experiences tend to become more infrequent as you age. As a result, you’ll need to be patient with the process and explore different options for finding a partner. There are offline and online opportunities that you’ll find useful. Offline options include museums, book clubs, local events, your network, places of worship and more. When it comes to online options, you can consider Match and eHarmony.
PROTECT yourself and your resources
Speaking of online dating sites, scammers are always on the prowl looking for seniors to exploit. As you start dating, be sure to protect yourself as you interact in real life (IRL) and online.
Seniors who have started dating after a long-term relationship may be dipping their toes in after decades of marriage or monogamy. Remember to take it slow and not let your emotions run away with you. Be sure to protect aspects of your identity and your resources so that you aren’t left with regrets.
Always enter any exclusively online relationship with a healthy dose of skepticism. And never send money or gifts to people you have never met in person.
PERSEVERE despite setbacks
As we already mentioned, dating as a senior has its unique challenges. To find success as you date, you’ll need to maintain a positive attitude and be persistent. You’ll likely have to endure a few interactions that don’t quite align with your ideals before you find the one that finally clicks
We wish you all the best as you navigate the dating pool. As a mature adult, it’s likely that your experiences, sound financial status and free time will make dating exciting and fulfilling.