by Lorelei Cohen

Created on: July 02, 2009   Last Updated: July 04, 2009

As long as our heart continues to beat, and our body craves the gentle touch of another hand within our own, love will happen. We are human, and age does not stop us from desiring affection, or love from those around us. Human touch is as important to an elderly person as it is to a newborn baby. As emotional beings we require the reassurance that it provides to us. Knowing that someone cares and is concerned for our well being, allows us a stronger sense of self worth, and this fact does not diminish as we age.The elderly need the warmth and closeness of an intimate love relationship as much as their younger counterparts do.

But exactly how old is too old to get married? When does it become apparent that emotion is overtaking logic and an irrational decision is being made? Who decides how old is too old to get married? It can be a very emotional issue.

Many families tend to very calmly presume that their elderly relatives, if single, should be content with the love of family and friends in their latter years. They are often then shocked, or disillusioned when that older person decides to pursue a love interest, and even more concerned when that individual decides to marry the person that they are dating.They consider the decision to marry to be a completely irrational one, and often will not only discourage the elderly relative from marrying, but may also take steps to prevent the event from occurring.

There are always many factors to consider when a person is considering marriage, but in the case of elderly individuals, there may be considerably more issues that will need to be dealt with. Family members may feel that the elderly person should remain loyal to a deceased spouse, and that a new marriage would somehow lessen their love, or respect for their previous mate. This often comes entangled in the form of resentment, and mistrust of the new love interest, and doubts in their relatives rational decision making processes.

The family may feel that the relationship is progressing far to quickly to be a genuine relationship. They wouldn't consider marrying within months of meeting someone so why on Earth would their mother or father consider it? It may not seem a rational thing to do but older individuals who engage in love relationships tend to have their relationships progress much faster than their younger counterparts. This may be due in part because they feel that they have less time for standard courting rituals or simply because they are more ready

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