When older men break up with their partners, many of them choose to stay alone rather than become romantically involved with someone else. Why do they do this? You’ll find 19 reasons in this article.
Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse is more common with younger couples, but this doesn’t mean it never happens between older couples. It’s not uncommon for a woman to be violent toward her husband. A man who has suffered domestic abuse from his former partner might choose to stay alone.
Growing apart
According to USA Today, “‘Gray divorce’ refers to rising divorce rates among older adults.” Many older men are deciding to get a divorce because they are growing apart from their partners. After divorcing, they stay alone because they don’t want the hassle of getting to know someone new.
Alcohol abuse
Living with someone who abuses alcohol is very difficult. When a man comes out of a relationship with someone who was very dependent on alcohol, they will feel relieved. An older person might choose to stay on their own rather than get involved with someone else.
Scams
Internet and telephone scams are everywhere and older people are usually the target. An older man might decide to live on his own instead of letting someone new into his life, as he might feel afraid that new people cannot be trusted due to all the scams of today.
Family acceptance
Many families struggle to accept the concept of having a new step-parent later on in life. Because some men don’t want to disturb the peace in the family and are not sure how their family would react to a new person in their lives, they stay single.
Widowhood
The United Nations calculates that there are 258 million widows worldwide. A man who becomes a widow in his old age might decide to remain on his own instead of looking for a new partner. Family support might be enough to help him get through this very difficult time in life.
Society
Society portrays falling in love as something that only young people do. Some older people are afraid of what others will say about them if they say that they are starting a new romantic relationship. Instead of having to face society, they stay on their own.
Making new friends
Older people often find it difficult to get out of the house on a regular basis. Because of this, they have limited opportunities to meet new people—or, even possibly, a new partner. This is another reason why older men remain on their own after separating.
Never moving
As we get older, we become creatures of habit, and the thought of moving can be daunting to us. Older men often find it hard to get into a serious romantic relationship, as they know this will mean having to move to a new house or having someone else move in.
Mental abuse
NCDV says, “Whenever a person is exposed to behaviour from their partner which leaves them feeling depressed or a range of other traumatic emotions, they are a victim of domestic mental abuse.” A man who was mentally abused by his wife might stay on his own because he thinks he’ll do better that way.
Varying interests
Many older men have very specific interests, some of which aren’t typically interesting to older women. Because of these varying interests, they don’t feel the need to start a new romantic relationship with someone they think they’ll have nothing in common with.
Travel
After retiring, many people begin to travel a lot. They make the most of their free time to see the world. If a senior man wants to travel to places that his partner isn’t interested in, he might find it easier to travel alone or with his friends who have similar interests.
Financial freedom
An older man might choose to separate from his partner and remain alone instead of enduring an unhappy marriage during his retirement. If the couple is relatively financially stable, a divorce and living alone might not affect their financial position, and each person can afford to go their separate ways.
Casual relationships
In the past, it was seen in a very bad light if you were to live with someone without getting married. But nowadays, casual relationships are becoming more and more frequent and accepted by society. An older man might choose to have a casual relationship after a divorce.
OCD
“In the United States alone, it is estimated that over 3 million adults have been diagnosed with OCD at some point in their lives,” says Golden Steps ABA. An older man who was living with a partner who had OCD might have been scarred by the experience and think they’re better off alone.
Cheating
Finding out your partner has been cheating on you can be one of the most difficult circumstances to deal with in a marriage. A man who’s been cheated on by his wife might decide to leave her and stay on his own if he loses confidence and trust in women.
Gambling
Gambling can destroy a family. Although it’s more common for a man to have a gambling problem than it is for a woman, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t any women with gambling problems. A man might choose to leave his wife if she has a gambling problem.
Conflict
Being in a relationship where two people are always fighting is exhausting. An older man might decide to get a divorce if he can’t see eye to eye with his wife. Trying to find someone who they can agree with in their old age might seem like too much hassle.
Money problems
One of the most conflicting topics between couples is money. An older man who constantly fights with his wife about money might decide that living on his own will bring him more peace. He wants to be able to make his own decisions about money.