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 to get into a mature relationship far sooner than their younger counterparts might be.
Another far reaching and very emotional factor, and one which most people will deny as being at issue, is the monetary value or Will distribution of the elderly relative in question. The older that family member becomes than the more likely it will be that his or her monetary value will become a factor in the logistics of a new marriage. It is simply human nature for family members who may be financially affected by a remarriage to be concerned about the impact that this marriage will have on their position within the Will.
Unfortunately in these above stated instances, it is often the families who unintentionally tend to put their own emotional needs ahead of the wants, and requirements of their older relative. It is now believed that up to ninety percent of older individuals still participate in some degree of dating, and that those who do, are much more satisfied with their quality of life. Age does not stop a person from desiring the comfort and self assurance that only a love relationship can provide to them. A little mental confusion does not diminish the emotion felt in a caring touch, or a soft kiss, from someone who really truly loves you.
So what happens when Dementia, Alzheimer's, or other age related mental confusion is present? Who then decides whether, or not that person is too old, or too mentally inept to make the decision to marry. Usually at this time it is the family who has right to elect whether or not to allow the elderly relative to marry. The may decide that dating instead is a better solution, or they may allow the marriage to go ahead, but first put in place stipulations as to it's occurrence.
Is there a substantial enough reason for a person to attempt to stop an elderly marriage from occurring? Only the individuals involved can make that decision. Love among the elderly will continue to blossom. The passing of time doesn't diminish the affects of Cupid's dart when it strikes the heart, when you are older it still hits with just as much depth, it just feels a little bit fuzzier.