Today’s senior citizens are proving it is never too late to fall in love and always too soon to give up trying. But as carefree as romance late in life can be, Cupid’s arrow can hit some sensitive spots and make life more complicated. When it comes to protecting the people and possessions gathered over a long life, this is no time to let love be blind. After all, nobody wants to end up battling over an estate with a gold-digging grandparent – or be accused of being one.
First comes love, and seniors are looking for it and finding it. Since 2017, the Pew Research Center reports there has been a 75 percent increase in the number of 50+ adults living together. They are finding that the song is right: Love really is more comfortable the second time around.
Senior couples tend to be more relaxed about their relationships, with no more debates or worries about having children. If they meet after retiring, they do not have to adjust to each other’s new lifestyle of staying home instead of going to work. They can identify with the effects of aging.
And whether retirees get married or decide that love means never having to say, “I DO,” they can continue to collect their full Social Security benefits.
I am Older, Where is the Best Place to Meet People?
Before trying any of the following ideas, use common sense. Choose a neutral time and place for your first few meetings, like coffee or lunch in a casual spot where you will feel safe and relaxed – no pressure to fall in love before the check arrives.
Try a Dating App on Your Phone (or a Website on your Computer).
Online dating is not just for young people. There are many safe, secure apps created specifically with seniors’ unique needs and interests in mind, and you can communicate with possible matchups at your leisure. Not interested in a certain match? Just swipe right past them; they will not even know you have passed. No hurt feelings.
Here are four popular sites for finding love later in life:
- OUR TIME: Aside from their available dating profiles, they also host live local events for members.
- SENIOR MATCH: Uses a questionnaire to match members based on hobbies, interests, and other factors.
- SILVER SINGLES: East to navigate this website and connect with other seniors.
- SINGLES 50: Uses a data-driven approach to matching members.
Join a Club, do Volunteer Work or Take a Class.
Getting involved in something that interests you has always been a rewarding way to meet a romantic partner. Even if you do not meet someone, you are engaged and active, which has positive effects on your mental and physical health. And this attitude may make you more attractive.
To find a place to spend or give your time, visit your local senior center or the bulletin board of your retirement community. Local hospitals, libraries, schools, and animal shelters have lots of volunteer opportunities.
Protect the Estate and Protect the Heart.
Once love strikes, it is time to pay attention to the more prosaic financial and legal issues, which, if ignored, can quickly turn sweet romance sour.
Assets always need to be protected, whether they are relatively low Social Security benefits or a lucrative portfolio of stocks and real estate holdings. Your Last Will and Testament (“Will”) should clearly spell out who you want your beneficiaries to be.
As we age, so do our health concerns. Serious illness will raise tough questions about medical care. The time to decide these matters is long before they come up, and planning should include designation of a Health Care Proxy to make sure the decision is one that the incapacitated older person would make if they were fully able.
It should go without saying that appointing the senior’s romantic partner to make any legal or financial decisions should be done only with careful consideration.
In fact, all financial, legal and health plans should be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they are keeping up with changed financial and family situations. Additional scrutiny is needed whenever a person begins a new relationship.
And yes, it is entirely possible that you or your beloved senior will begin more than one new romantic relationship in their golden years. Accept it, celebrate it – and be prepared for it.
Your Perfect Legal Match
After you find a new love to keep you warm late in life, make sure your estate plan will not leave your heirs out in the cold. To get started with a free consultation about your options, call us at (954) 251-0332, email info@ocestatelawyers.com or use the contact form on the homepage of this website. Our attorneys are fluent in English, Spanish and Russian, and our love language is Peace of Mind.
