Summer Lovin’: Benefits of Dating for Seniors

Summertime around senior housing near you is filled with fun spirits, outdoor opportunities, and increased socialization for Senior Residents. But the fun of beautiful weather does not end there. Just like flares that bloom in the meadows, love could blossom too.

While the current pandemic restricts increased socialization, it does not eliminate dating opportunities for seniors. There’s a pool of online dating sites they could easily dive into in search of potential love. Encourage your senior loved ones to be back on the hunt with these following benefits of dating for seniors:

 1.    Increases Socialization and Builds New Relationships

The vast majority of Americans aged 65 and older are single, studies show. During retirement years, isolation seems like an easy option, but it does not necessarily mean it’s the happiest option. When the prospect of finding intimacy and opening up to new relationships comes into the picture, seniors are encouraged to open themselves up to the world again. In turn, revived social life boosts physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits. Thanks to modern technology, social networking is within our fingertips, making it a Great Deal for Seniors.

 2.    Provides Anticipation and Motivation

Stomach butterflies are not just for 18-year-olds. Whether divorced, widowed, or single for a long time, the anticipation brought by meeting someone and building new relationships can repaint colours in seniors’ lives. Meeting someone new who pays interest in them can boost their self-esteem. Plus, the feeling of being appreciated can make their lives feel more meaningful in an overall sense.

 3.    Promotes Psychological Well-Being

Dating can make seniors feel extremely positive on a different level. We’ve all been there. Where everything is rainbows and butterflies, and you just feel like you’re on cloud nine. This isn’t an exaggeration at all. Relationship building increases dopamine and norepinephrine levels, which induce pleasure, energy, and euphoric feelings. Intimacy and romantic entanglements also release the love hormone known as oxytocin, which leads to relaxation and psychological stability.

 4.    Improves Physical Health

A Carnegie Mellon University study found that seniors who are socially isolated were more prone to colds in comparison to their socially active peers. Engaging in social interactions alleviates stress, which in turn boosts the body’s immunity to fight off viruses and infection. Building relationships also reduces the progression of declining health and promotes a longer lifespan. Whether the purpose of dating is to kindle permanent love or to just seek companionship, these benefits will carry on.

 5.    Enhances Cognition

Dating is like reading an open book. For seniors whose chapters are filled, it’s a wisdom-packed read. Getting to know someone is getting to know all their stories to tell. Singles over 50 have experienced the world, and finding someone with the same stories and intellect to spare is a great comfort. Senior dating can include exchanging political views, reminiscing good old trends, or even taking a walk down memory lane of past relationships. These healthy conversations keep them mentally sharp and intellectually engaged. In turn, it enhances cognition and prevents early decline.

 Conclusion

Summer love knows no age limits. In fact, it ages like fine wine. Intimacy and building relationships over retirement age spare seniors the immaturity and complexities of young love. Caregivers or loved ones alike should not condemn seniors who seek to date. Whether they find permanent love or just casual companionship, the benefits of dating would leave them with an advantage, one way or another.