10 Dating Tips For Seniors

There are many reasons why seniors would want to get back into the dating world in their senior years. Intimacy and relationships play an essential role in our lives, no matter our age. In later life, love can contribute to your happiness, health, and general well-being. The challenge, however, is finding that special someone later in life.

One of the big mistakes older adults make when approaching love is assuming that love and dating are the same as it was when they were in their 40's. The truth is dating in your older years is far different from the dating you experienced in the past.

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The Wide Dating Pool

If you are wondering whether there are potential partners out there, let's take a look at the statistics. According to a survey, there were 40 million Americans over 65 in 2011, which is an 18% increase from 2000. Also, a 33% increase of the number of Americans between the ages of 45 and 64 were observed. Among these Americans, 55% of women and 28% of men stated that they were single.

The senior generation is rapidly increasing, which only means that there are many potential partners out there waiting for you to meet. The question that remains is this: how do you put yourself ‘out there'? What can you do to increase your chance of finding love later in life? Here are ten fail-proof tips.

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Tips for Finding Love Later in Life

1. Have the Willingness

The first step you need to take is to be willing to put all of yourself out there. This willingness requires accepting that the dating process may be a long one but the journey is half of the fun. Only with this willingness in hand will you be able to stay the course and not surrender.

2. Set expectations

Once you have the desire, set clear expectations for yourself. Know exactly who you are and what you are looking for. Understand behaviors that may sabotage your efforts, such as sticking to a specific "type" that may not be a good fit for you. You may consider going to therapy to discover these more profound aspects of yourself.

3. Remove negative notions

The worst thing you can do if you are interested in getting back into the dating world is sabotaging yourself with your negativity. Don't think that just because you didn't click on the first date, you are doomed to failure. Another wrong notion is that you just don't have ‘luck' with relationships and that you are ‘cursed' to be single. This couldn't be further from the truth.

4. Be open to online dating

With everything happening online these days, it makes sense that love can be found online. If this is a new idea to you, try and accept it as a new option. Statistics show that more and more seniors are entering the online world, so why not give it a shot? There are various dating sites that you can sign up to that gives you access to hundreds of potential matches at the tip of your fingers.

5. Find the right dating site

You will be able to find specific dating sites for those over 65 that are tailored to meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular:

• eHarmony Senior Dating

This site was started by a psychologist Dr. Warren. The website uses what is called the 29 Dimensions of Compatibility to measure compatibility. Dr. Warren came up with these Dimensions by studying thousands of married couples. He believes these Dimensions are an accurate way to measure relationship success and uses them to match singles on the website.

• AARP Dating

One of the features that are unique with this site is the "Pick a Date" feature which allows users to provide information about themselves through questions. The site also uses a button similar to the "Like" button of Facebook called "I am Intrigued" which users can utilize to show interest in other members.

• Senior FriendFinder

This site is known for its security and customer service and is tailored specifically for seniors. It has a chat feature that allows seniors to strike up conversations with each other. Another feature is a magazine option where members can upload their articles.

• Niche specific sites

These sites are ideal if you are looking for particular traits in a potential partner. For example, the sites Christian Connection and Christian Café for Single Seniors are tailored for those of the Christian faith looking to meet similar partners. Other niche-specific sites include Senior Black People Meet and Senior Jewish Singles.

6. Join a Community Center or Club

If meeting someone online isn't appealing to you, you can always try joining a club or community where you can meet other seniors. Taking up a new hobby or finding ways to interact with those in your community is another excellent way to meet a potential love interest. Not only can joining such a club give you new opportunities to meet people but becoming sociable later in life.

Those who love books can consider joining a book club to meet like-minded book lovers. A cooking club is another fantastic way to learn something new while meeting love interests.

7. Go on Vacation

What can be more romantic than meeting that special someone while away on vacation? Book yourself a gorgeous getaway, have fun doing everything on your bucket list, and keep your eyes open for that potential someone.

Travelling to someplace new is also a good idea if you are tired of meeting the same people in your area and crave for some adventure. Being in a new culture gives you a reason to strike up conversations with people and make new friends. On top of that, you are more relaxed when you are on vacation so you will attract more people with your positive, happy vibe. Take advantage of this and make your next vacation one remember.

8. Try a Matchmaking Agency

This is yet another exciting option if online dating is not for you. Matchmaking agencies are not online services that require you to create a profile. Instead, they arrange for an appointment with a professional matchmaker in person who will ask you about your interests, hobbies and what you are looking for. After this meet-up, they do all the work of matching you with a compatible person and even arrange your first date.

Matchmaking agencies take a lot of the hard work of online dating away and allow you to relax and wait for them to find your match. Also, you won't need to worry about posting personal information on the internet, and your privacy will be kept. On the negative side, these services charge quite high fees.

9. Overcome Dating obstacles

Unlike younger dating, seniors face unique challenges that may come in the form of taboos and social norms. To succeed at dating, you need to identify which obstacle you face and overcome it as soon as possible.

For women, a common obstacle is society’s perception of beauty. Older women may feel that they are not attractive just because they are older. If this is how you feel, remember this: you are the same person you were 20 years ago-even better! Don’t let your appearance affect your inner beauty.

Older men may also have feelings of inferiority, usually due to their lowered strength and stamina. They may feel that no woman would want to be with them because they are not as masculine as they were in the past. If you can relate to this, keep in mind that there is more to being a man than strength. You have developed traits that younger men are yet to discover- you have an edge.

10. Enjoy the journey

Don't rush yourself to find that special person and take things as they come. Enjoy the time you spend striking up conversations with strangers, meeting new people, and connecting with others. Think of dating as a journey, not as a destination and savor every minute of it. Even if you don't find your match despite your best efforts, don't give up. Always remember the benefits you have gained by simply putting yourself out there.

Dating should be more than just a means to an end- think of it as a way to boost your self-confidence, meet new friends, and get to know yourself better. If you do this, you will not feel disappointed when dates don't work out as you expect them but instead will walk away with lessons you were happy to learn.

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Conclusion

Dating can be daunting for those in their older years. Society's perception of dating may cloud your ideas, perhaps causing you to feel like you will never find love. But don't give up. Make a conscious decision to put yourself out there and be willing to wait for love to find its way into your life. No matter how long it takes, enjoy dating, and get to know yourself better. Remember-it's never too late for love.