Important Senior Dating Do’s and Don’ts: Things to Remember on a First Date

Many think that dating is a young person’s game, but there is no age limit in the modern-day dating scene, meaning even older adults above the age of 60 can still find love, even if it may be for the first or the second time around.

As a senior, you can start finding the right partner for a long-term relationship through online senior dating sites.

Of course, to fully experience the fun and excitement of virtual dating, there are do’s and don’ts for people who are on the dating sites for seniors over 50 that you need to keep in mind.

Here is a complete guide to navigating dating for older adults to help you start dating and finding love!

The Most Important Pieces of Dating Advice for Senior Singles on Online Dating Sites

In the dating world, established dating rules help you find a genuine relationship built on openness, honesty, respect, and a dash of fun.

Here are some of the most important pieces of dating advice for people on dating sites for seniors over 60 (or so):

1. Be Open and Honest

On any dating site, it is easy for some people to change their information and appearances to make themselves look good, even at the expense of luring someone.

You don’t want to start dating with that mindset because it will result in a weak relationship foundation that can quickly turn sour at any point.

So, in finding new partners, you must be open and honest, and you can do this by:

• being open and truthful about your past relationships (e.g., how they ended);
• being open and truthful about your likes and preferences in a relationship (e.g., casual, short-term, or long-term); and
• being open and truthful about your goals

If you decide to start dating this way, you will find a potential partner that’s genuinely on the same page as you, and you can establish trust within your relationship.

2. Take Your Time

One of the essential things to remember when entering your first date after a failed marriage, divorce, or a partner’s death is to take things slow.

Taking your time in forging a new relationship will help you and your well-being in so many ways, such as:

• Allowing you to get to know the person in-depth
• Warming up to get out of your comfort zone
• Giving time to set boundaries
• Providing space to talk about the crucial things in a relationship, including sex and sexually transmitted diseases

Also, dating at your own pace will help you establish trust and credibility before jumping into financial matters, such as business administration, properties, and banking details.

REMEMBER: You can still engage in speed dating for seniors while taking your time in knowing the new person!

3. Keep an Open Mind

You can only foster a good relationship by being open-minded to different scenarios and opportunities.

Here are some of the ways you can keep your mind open while dating another older adult:

• Understand their past relationships and how they dealt with it
• Listen to their viewpoints on life and love
• Hear their stories and what they have to tell
• Be open to the age range
• Have realistic expectations

If you keep an open mind while dating, you’ll surely meet people, hear their stories, and have a relationship grounded on acceptance and trust.

4. Have a Positive Attitude

When you are trying to enter the dating game through the online world, always have a positive attitude because it allows you to:

• Attract the right person
• Stay true to your core beliefs and goals
• Keep self-esteem high throughout the process

If you are fixated on finding a new partner in a snap through dating websites and getting disappointed when things don’t work out, it will keep your morale down and even discourage you from continuing.

However, if you keep a positive attitude and mindset, even at your lowest points on the dating scene, you can find the silver lining, allowing you to find a new date that will help you be more and achieve more in this lifetime.

5. Be Respectful

It is common sense to respect people, whether you are dating them or not, as respect builds trust, confidence, and security within a relationship.

Always show respect for the following aspects of your date’s life:

• Beliefs regarding religion, mental health, and other essentials
• Valuing their emotional and physical needs
• Supporting their interests and hobbies
• Giving personal space

When respect is at the forefront of your relationship, coupled with other things listed in this article, you can create a long-lasting relationship with a new partner and live your golden years happy and secure in terms of romance.

6. Have Fun

The most important thing when dating is always to have fun. It means pursuing things and activities that can make both of you happy, even just going to a coffee shop once a week.

You can also enjoy the dating process when you have set boundaries on what you like, what you don’t like, what you believe in, and what makes you skeptical and scared.

Do this by having an open mind, being truthful, taking time, and being respectful.

Doing so allows you to engage more with your new partner without stepping on their pressure points or needing to walk on eggshells.

What Not to Do in the Modern Dating Scene

Dating rules are not complete despite the presence of the don’ts in the dating scene. Here are the things you must avoid when finding your perfect match through many dating sites.

1. Don’t Lie About Your Age Or Physical Appearance

The number one in the online dating rules is to never lie about your age or physical appearance. 

As we have mentioned earlier, it is easy for people to change information about themselves and even edit their pictures to fit the standards of modernity.

However, if you do these kinds of manipulative tactics, it can result in the following scenarios:

• Your potential date will not know who you truly are
• Your date may ditch you after the first time (upon finding out you’re a fraud)
• You cannot have open and honest communication

Remember that a potential partner will be interested (even if it takes some time) if they resonate with your true self. Having an appealing dating profile also helps!

2. Don’t Talk About Money

Don’t open the financial talks during your primary date just yet because some people may not be too welcoming of that topic, and some may even be intimidated.

For some, talking about money on the very first date feels like oversharing, which can make the dating atmosphere heavier rather than lighter.

Money talks can enter the scene when you’ve already dated for quite some time, especially when you already know each other intimately.

However, talking about your career is an exception to this rule.

3. Don’t Bring Up The Past

Do not suck the fun out of your very early dating experiences by unnecessarily bringing up unresolved, traumatic or heavy past issues in life and relationships.

You can only discuss it when it has something to do with your current set-up or is relevant to a present issue that needs to be solved. Or, when you know the issues from the past can be processed and well-received by your partner because the relationship has progressed to accommodate this new information.

Of course, you can delve into past relationships at the preliminary stages of your dating life, as it will contribute to an honest and open relationship. Yet, bringing it up randomly during a date will bring more harm than good. 

4. Don’t Rush Into Physical Intimacy

Taking things slow is also applicable to physical intimacy.

The primary reason is, as seniors, your immune or other physical systems may not be as strong as it was when you were younger. So, always take time to know the medical history and/or physical challenges of your dating partner before getting intimate with them.

TIP: If your love language is physical touch, choose the best senior sex dating sites to find the intimacy and excitement you crave.

5. Don’t Drink Too Much Alcohol

Even if you are dating like your younger counterparts, never forget your age, especially when trying to have an alcoholic drink with your partner.

Drawing from our experience, we discovered that alcohol and old age don’t quite sit well together for the following reasons:

• Your ability to convert alcohol into energy is slower than when you were younger
• You can get higher blood alcohol concentrations
• Your physical conditions as a senior may deteriorate more with alcohol 

6. Don’t Compare Your Date To Your Past Partners

Comparisons can kill your relationships, even if it has not yet started. 

For one, comparing your date with your previous lover is unfair, as it will appear as if you are trying to mold them into what you liked about your past partners when in the first place, you’re entering a date because the first one did not work well.

Another thing is that the comparison process will make you expect more, even if it is impossible to achieve upfront.

Lastly, having continuous comparisons is disrespectful to your partner. It even leeches the fun out of dating life, as it will disappoint you that your current date cannot meet your expectations and preferences.

Things to Remember For Seniors Finding Love Through Online Dating

In having fruitful relationships when dealing with an online dating service, there are certain things you need to remember. We have compiled these things to help you out.

Find Common Interests While Senior Dating

You can already find common interests with your partner even on your first meeting. These interests can cover hobbies, career paths, acts of charity, family, pets and more.

Afterward, you can focus on your similarities, build connections (even through friends and family), and do things together on succeeding dates—for example, walks, slow dancing, card games, etc.

Most importantly, finding common interests is more accessible with online dating. You can limit your date finds to a particular group by customizing your age group, interests, likes, hobbies, and all the other essentials.

Choose The Right Dating Platform

You need to choose the right dating platform to have successful first dates. The key to finding the right one is to explore different websites rather than sticking to a single site.

You can ask your friends and family what apps they recommend most. It is better to ask the younger friends and family members as they are most familiar with the ins and outs of dating sites, but emphasizing that you wish to go on a site or app that would be appropriate for meeting someone of a similar age as you.

To help you decide, you can consider the following tips:

• Choose a site that caters to local singles 
• Choose a flexible site, meaning you can filter the people you want to date with by checking the preferences tabs
• Choose a site that has an easy sign-up process and rigid safety features

PRO TIP: Choose from among the best senior dating sites listed throughout this article!

Be Respectful And Considerate

Another thing you must remember when on a date is to be respectful and considerate of your potential date’s life, choices, experiences, and beliefs.

It will be beneficial to listen and understand what they are sharing and what they have been through to create an atmosphere of security and trust.

Embrace The Journey

As we have consistently pointed out in this article, finding new people to love and behold is a fun and exciting journey.

Sometimes, it can be challenging, but stick with the process and attempt to learn from each new communication, contact or date.

Embrace the journey as it will help you grow more, be familiar with people’s dynamics, and eventually thrive when you find the right person to accompany you in this lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You likely have questions in mind regarding online dating as seniors. We answered some of your FAQs in this section.

Is it Possible for Seniors Like Me to Find Love at this Age?

Yes, seniors like you can find love at this age, primarily through reliable dating apps or sites and by following the tips we’ve laid out in this article.

You can hire a dating coach for more in-depth senior dating tips to really allow you to hone your skills before your next meet-up.

Also, the possibility of finding the love of your life, even if your age is beyond 60, is still high because love knows no age.

What Should I Wear on My Date as a Senior?

You can wear anything comfortable and appropriate for where you intend to meet people.

Comfort, style, and appropriateness can go a long way in making your first impression (and first date) last.

What Do Seniors Talk About on a First Date?

There are different topics that seniors can talk about on a first date, such as current events, experiences, hobbies, and interests.

Here are some tips on how to keep the conversation flowing:

• Ask about your date’s thoughts on the place you are meeting
• Ask them how they are
• Communicate about your similarities

Finally…

Finding a romantic partner as an older adult is not impossible, but what you should always bear in mind are the tips we have mentioned in this article:

• Be open
• Be respectful
• Enjoy the process

If you have these three principles intact on online and in-person dates and the other things to remember and avoid, you can find the right one for you in no time!

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