Share your life without moving together: this is the principle of “Living Apart Together”. Long associated with young people, this mode of relationship now also seduces seniors. A study published in the Journal of Gerontology Series B: Social Sciences reveals that 4 % of British over 60s choose to live separately from their partner, a proportion comparable to the United States, the Netherlands and Canada.
The advantages and limits of “Living Apart Together”
Researchers at the University of Lancaster and the University College London emphasize that these couples display a psychological well-being equivalent to that of married or cohabitation couples, and superior to that of singles of the same age. For the sixties, this way of life combines independence and love life. It allows you to enjoy good times without undergoing everyday hassle. Some speak of a flame easier to maintain. But living under two roofs also involves a certain financial and logistical comfort.
There are many advantages: preserved autonomy, reduced arguments, simplified ruptures. There are also drawbacks such as a higher cost of housing and an organization of journeys.
According to researchers, this model particularly appeals to women over 60 years of age. It offers a balanced alternative to the traditional couple and limits the emotional and administrative impact of separations.
A new long -term vision of the couple
“”When we think of intimate relationships, we often imagine couples living under the same roof. But our research highlights the complexity of life situations at an advanced age and the importance of intimate relationships that extend beyond the home“Declares Rory Coulter, associate professor at the University College London.
This couple’s reinvention is also illustrated with personalities like British actress Miriam Margolyes and her partner Heather Sutherland, who each lived in their nest for five decades. Proof that love can last, even without shared key.