What Makes a Good Marriage Last Into Your 70s and Beyond?

A good marriage that lasts into your 70s and beyond thrives on daily respect, shared routines, and the willingness to grow together through life's changes.

Senior couples who stay happily married prioritize open and effective communication. They also adapt to new realities while honoring their decades of shared history.

According to BGSU, approximately 46.9% of currently married older adults have been married for 50 years or more. These long-term relationships can help lower rates of depression and improve physical health outcomes in seniors. That's powerful evidence that love truly does keep us young.

At Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, senior couples often walk hand-in-hand through local parks and attend community events together. They also enjoy a welcoming senior living community that offers independent living with supportive services that help couples flourish.

Is it a Good Idea to Get Married After 60 Years Old?

Whether getting married after 60 is a good idea depends on your personal goals and circumstances. For many, marriage at this stage offers:

• Emotional support
• Wonderful companionship
• Shared joy during retirement years

Marrying as a senior also comes with greater self-knowledge and clarity. You get into marriage knowing what you want from a partnership.

How Do You Decide If You Should Marry Someone?

You know you've found the right person when your values align. Here's how to know you've found a partner for a good marriage.

Look for These Core Qualities

Assess your partner's qualities. Your potential spouse should share your views on:

• Money and how to spend it
• Family and how to treat them
• Faith and what you believe
• Future plans and where you want to go
• Communication and how you solve problems

According to Refinery29, 64% of married adults say having shared interests is very important to a successful marriage.

Friendship Comes First

You need friendship in your marriage. The best marriages among retirement couples start with two people who genuinely like each other. They laugh together and choose each other's company over anyone else's.

Watch How They Treat Others

Look at how your partner treats others in senior housing. These habits can tell you how they will treat you.

What Is the Biggest Secret to a Successful Marriage?

The biggest secret for a good marriage is consistent, honest communication. However, as you grow older, aging brings challenges that affect communication, such as:

• Hearing loss: Makes you mishear your partner and causes frustration.
• Memory loss: Leads to repeated questions or forgotten conversations.
• Health issues:  Drains your energy, making meaningful talks feel like a chore.

You can navigate these challenges by prioritizing patience. If you have a hearing problem, use tools like hearing aids. As partners, you can also set aside quiet times to talk when you're both rested.

What Makes a Good Marriage Last Into Your 70s and Beyond?

Your golden years marriage can be a deeply rewarding chapter. Here are daily habits and intentional choices you can make to ensure it lasts:

Adapting Together Through Life's Changes

A good marriage survives into your 70s and beyond because both partners evolve together. You're not the same people who married decades ago.

Successful couples accept these social and health changes. They adjust their expectations and find new ways to enjoy time together that fit their current abilities.

Physical Affection Remains Important

Hand-holding, hugs, and gentle touches matter throughout life. Senior love advice from happily married couples emphasizes maintaining physical connection, even when intimacy changes with age. Simple gestures like a goodnight kiss keep emotional bonds strong.

Supporting Each Other's Health

In your 70s, health becomes a central concern. Partners who attend medical appointments together, encourage healthy habits, and provide emotional support during illness strengthen their marriage bonds. You become each other's health advocates.

Shared Purpose and Activities

Happy senior couples maintain shared interests. In Menomonee Falls, couples take advantage of senior living events. These shared experiences create new memories and keep the relationship vibrant.

Maintaining Independence

Even in the strongest marriages, partners need individual space. You may pursue different hobbies or have separate friend groups in a senior living community in Menomonee Falls, WI. These individual interests make you more interesting to each other.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the 5 5 5 Rule in Marriage?

In case of a dispute, each partner will take five minutes to speak while the other listens. Subsequently, they use the final five minutes to talk it through. This structured approach prevents the shouting matches that damage relationships.

For seniors, this rule is valuable. It forces slower, more thoughtful communication. Additionally, it creates space for both voices to be heard. The principle ensures everyone gets heard before solutions are discussed.

What Are the 3 A's of Marriage?

To make your partner feel loved, give them attention, affection, and appreciation. Attention means putting down your phone when your spouse speaks. It also means remembering that they mentioned feeling worried about something.

Staying connected with your partner requires affection. If you want to be affectionate, consider using kind words, physical touch, and thoughtful gestures.

Appreciation means expressing gratitude. You should always recognize the thousands of ways they contribute to your shared life.

What Stage of Marriage Is the Hardest?

For seniors, the transition into retirement often proves challenging. You suddenly spend much more time together. Daily routines change, and health issues may emerge.

As a couple, you can struggle in the first few years of retirement as you renegotiate your relationship. You and your partner will be figuring out how to be together all day when you spent decades apart for work.

Keep Your Love Growing in Your Golden Years

With the right partner, it's easy to maintain a good marriage as you age. The right partner should be a friend who loves you and shares your interests. As you retire, they should also be ready to age gracefully with you.

At Village at the Falls, our independent living with supportive services understands that marriage flourishes when couples have the right environment and support. We create engaging activities monthly, from bingo nights and card games to group outings and musical performances, giving couples opportunities to enjoy shared interests while building friendships with neighbors. Our pet-friendly community welcomes furry family members to share in your love.

Contact us today to learn more about our senior living services.