Senior Living News

Pros of Dating in Retirement

If you're considering dating as an older adult, you're probably excited about the possibilities. It can be a rewarding experience, whether you date casually for fun or want something more serious. Some specific benefits of dating in your later years include:

• Companionship. Loneliness often affects older adults, who might lose partners or lose touch with old friends and family. Dating boosts your social life and gives you companionship that can fight off lonely feelings.
• Built-in adventure partner. When you're dating someone, you have a partner to do all the things you want to do, such as explore Phoenix activities or travel.
• Clear expectations. By the time you reach retirement age, you know what you want in life. Whether or not you've been married previously, you have enough life experience to understand your preferences. That can make it easier to choose suitors who'll be a good match for your lifestyle and needs.
• Emotional support. If you find someone you want to date seriously, you have someone to offer emotional support to you when you're going through challenges. You can extend the same to them. Life's challenges are usually a little easier when you have someone to support you through them.
• Financial benefits. Long-term relationships could benefit you financially if you move in together. You can share expenses on housing, bills and groceries. If you get married, you could see tax benefits as well.

Cons of Dating in Retirement

It's also a good idea to be aware of the potential drawbacks of dating as you get older. This helps you go into it with realistic expectations and can help you avoid potential issues.

• Scams and misrepresentation. Romance scams, where someone pretends to be a suitor to scam someone out of money, are a risk when dating in retirement. It's estimated that romance scams caused older adults to lose $139 million in 2020. Even if someone isn't a scammer, they might misrepresent themselves, which can lead to mistrust or hurt feelings.
• Unmet expectations. There are no guarantees you'll find what you're looking for in the dating world. You might face disappointments in the people you meet. However, approaching dating with an open mind to have fun rather than find a serious relationship can make it easier.
• Living arrangements. You might eventually find yourself in a serious relationship and want to move in with that special someone. Agreeing on living arrangements isn't always easy, especially if you both have established homes. You might compromise and start a new life together at LifeStream at North Phoenix, where you can choose from one- or two-bedroom garden homes.
• Resistance to change. By the time you reach retirement age, you likely have your routines and preferences. Dating someone might mean you need to adjust those routines or compromise on how you do things. Some people might resist those changes, which could cause conflict in the relationship.
• Estate planning. Your estate planning can get complicated if you start dating someone seriously in retirement. You'll likely need to meet with a lawyer to rework your will, power of attorney and other important documents. It could also cause friction with family members who expected to inherit your estate.

Tips for Dating as an Older Adult

Despite the potential drawbacks, dating can be a positive experience. Following these tips can help you stay safe and make dating more enjoyable.

• Consider what you want. Make sure you're ready to date, and decide what type of relationship you want to pursue. Maybe you're just looking for companionship through casual dating with people who share similar interests. Or you might be looking for a long-term partner. Being clear with yourself on what you want helps you navigate dating.
• Set and communicate boundaries. You know what you expect, but the people you date won't know unless you tell them. Have clear boundaries in place on what you feel comfortable with while dating, and let the people you talk to know what they are.
• Use online dating with caution. Sometimes, it takes a little creativity to meet people who want to date. Online dating can help you find others who are looking, but it's important to protect your personal information with online dating.
• Meet in public. No matter how long you've been talking to someone, meeting them in public is the safest option. This is especially true if you meet online and don't know them in person. Drive yourself or use a ride-sharing service to get to the date. Let someone else know who you're meeting and where you're going.

Dating in your retirement years can be exciting and rewarding when you know what you want, stick to your boundaries and have fun with it.

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