Is love only for the young?

Romance report confirms we’re never too old for love

Seniors are setting the record straight — love and romance aren’t just for the young.  In fact seven in 10 seniors over the age of 75 say they’re never too old for love.

This is one of the key findings of the Revera Report on Romance which surveyed older adults aged 75+, Boomers and Gen Yers, to find out about their expectations and experiences with social interaction as they age – including love, romance and companionship.

The Report found:

• Only 38 per cent of Boomers and Gen Yers believe love and romance will still be very important when they are over 75+,  compared to 88 per cent of seniors who say companionship is something they couldn’t do without;
• Just as many seniors have romantic partners as 18 to 30 year olds (approximately 50 per cent for each group);
• And senior men place higher importance on love and romance, with 83 per cent saying it’s important, compared to just 56 per cent of senior women.

“Seniors’ positive outlook on love and romance is encouraging to see because they are both important aspects of social interaction,” says Dr. Amy D’Aprix, gerontologist and expert on aging.   “What many people don’t know, is remaining socially active can have a significant impact on your physical health, such as reducing your risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.  It’s also been shown to have a comparable impact on mortality as smoking and alcohol.”  She continued, “And of course, there’s no question that it also contributes to happiness and emotional health.”

And seniors themselves recognize that social interaction, and having meaningful relationships, can make all the difference when it comes to aging.  In fact, 98 per cent of seniors believe that keeping socially active is just as important to successful aging as good physical health.

For more stories of love and romance from today’s seniors, and to see the full report, visit www.reveraliving.com.