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If you're in your seventies and thinking about dating again, you're far from the only one. Plenty of people over 70 are deciding they'd rather share their time than spend it alone. Many are single again later than they expected, too: researchers at Bowling Green State University have found that divorce among adults 65 and older has roughly tripled since 1990. Dating over 70 isn't about starting from scratch; it's about adding good company to a life that's already full of stories.
This page looks at what makes dating in your seventies different, and why it can be one of the best times to meet someone.
The biggest change is clarity. By your seventies, you know exactly what matters to you and what doesn't. You're less interested in impressing anyone and more interested in finding someone who makes an ordinary day better.
Priorities often shift too. Many people over 70 care most about companionship: someone to share meals, outings, phone calls and the occasional adventure with. Romance is very much still on the table, and often all the sweeter for growing out of friendship. There's a particular thrill in realizing, over a third lunch, that you've started looking forward to someone's calls.
There's no single right answer to what you're looking for. Some people over 70 hope to remarry; some want a steady partner but prefer to keep their own homes; some want a friend to travel with. All of those are perfectly good reasons to date.
The key is to be honest about it. Say in your profile what you're hoping for, and you'll attract people who want the same thing. It saves everyone time and makes first conversations much easier.
If you've never dated online, it's simpler than you might think. If you can send an email, you can use a dating site. There's nothing to install, and you can browse whenever it suits you.
A few tips help. Use a recent photo where you look like yourself on a good day. Write a few honest lines about your life now, not twenty years ago: what fills your week, what you enjoy, what you'd love to share with someone. And take your time. There's no rush to reply to everyone or to meet quickly.
"It's too late." It isn't. People fall in love at 75 and 85, and many say it's the most relaxed, contented relationship they've ever had.
"Nobody my age is online." They are. Plenty of people over 70 video-call their grandkids, shop online and read the news on a tablet. Dating sites are just one more thing they've added.
"People my age only want friendship." Some do, but plenty want romance too: affection, flirting, holding hands at the movies, someone to kiss goodnight. Wanting that at 75 is not only normal, it's one of the nicest things about being human.
Think comfortable and interesting. A matinee and an early dinner. A drive to a scenic overlook. A class you both fancy trying, from painting to cooking. A local concert in the park. The best dates at this stage are the ones that leave plenty of room to talk.
Dating in your seventies often involves conversations younger people don't have. Health, mobility, family commitments, where you each live, whether you'd ever want to share a home. None of these needs to come up on a first date, but being open about them as you get to know someone makes things easier for both of you.
Adult children and grandchildren can have opinions too. Most come round quickly when they see you happier, but it helps to introduce a new companion gradually and let everyone get used to the idea.
Many people in their seventies worry that a new relationship means giving up the life they've built. It doesn't have to. Plenty of couples over 70 keep their own homes, their own finances and their own friends, and simply enjoy each other's company on the days that suit them. Saying so early on isn't unromantic; it's honest, and it attracts people who want the same kind of arrangement.
Scammers sometimes target older daters, so one rule matters above all: if anyone you've only met online asks for money, gift cards or financial help, stop replying and report them. Beyond that, keep early chats on the site, meet in daylight somewhere public, and let someone you trust know your plans.
OlderHearts welcomes singles of every age over 50, and people in their seventies and eighties are very much part of it. Look for someone in your area, read their profile at leisure, and say hello when you're ready.
If you'd like to understand what to look for in a site, our guide to dating websites for older people explains the essentials. To focus on people close by, search for singles in your area. Join now and meet someone who makes an ordinary day better.