Five women on both sides of the Atlantic reveal what it’s like trying to find a partner in your 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s
Stella Ralfini, 78-year-old beauty writer, London (pictured above)
I’ve been single for 10 years, since my partner died. I started dating in my early 70s, and in the past year I’ve been on 10 dates. Initially, I thought it was sex I missed, or companionship, but it’s not that. I want someone to share romantic sunsets and picnics with again. And I want to die in love. I want to die remembering how that felt, because that’s when I felt most alive. I know the man for me exists, and I’m not going to stop looking until I find him.
In my experience, few men are looking for a 78-year-old woman on dating sites and apps. I came off Match.com a few months ago because I look much younger than my age and was accused by two or three men of being AI-generated or using a fake picture.
Men who are much younger than me – in their 50s – did show interest in me, but I’m not interested in them. It’s very important to me to date a man who is in his 70s or late 60s, who’s at the same point I am so we can live out our last years crazily in love.
