by T Kane

Created on: July 31, 2009   Last Updated: August 01, 2009

Why does online dating , particularly elderly online dating make me feel so anxious? Generally I have no doubts when it comes to my 75 year old father's decisions. Yet when it comes to the world wide web I feel it is my place to protect him from all of the online discrepancies.

The popularity of online dating for the elderly is growing as computers become more conventional. Seniors are in quest of new companions and want to create new relationships. While it will undoubtedly feel awkward to intervene with your parent's dating your personal experiences with the matter can really help you lay the ground work for this discussion. Seniors will defiantly reap many benefits from online dating, but you will of course want to inform them of any potential risks.

What are the benefits?

A few of the benefits of online dating for your elderly parents are that they will have a chance to connect with a greater variety of people than could be provided simply by family and friend introductions. Further more they will be able to specifically find companions who share common interests and will get to unpretentiously hone their dating skills, which probably haven't been used for quite some time. They will also get the opportunity to establish a relationship before they meet.

What are some tips for success?

Your parents should know what kind of relationship they are looking for. Are they looking for something long-term? Are they are interested in an activity partner, a pen pal or maybe they are looking for romance? Persuade them to be truthful about their physical attributes, hobbies and abilities. The more detailed they are about their interests the better the connections will be. If your parent likes music or movies encourage them to reflect the type they like in their profile. If they feel they are ready to meet someone be sure that they arrange a meeting in a safe public place as soon as possible. Remind them of the importance of honesty, if they do not feel a connection or are not interest in someone they meet online then they should stop corresponding and let them know immediately.

Are there any warnings the elderly should be made aware of?

Individuals are frequently able to express themselves more freely over the Internet than in person, so this may lead to more intense feeling much more quickly. Meeting as soon as possible once a bond has been established makes expectations more realistic and lets them discover whether or not they have chemistry in person.

Revealing

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