Cohabitation is on the rise among older people, demographers report, driven by both personal and economic considerations.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/08/health/older-americans-unmarried-couples.html
I could see doing that if i get my own room.
I think this may make sense for folks who want companionship but want to pass assets on to the kids they had with the bio-parent. It’s definitely something that may come up as folks outlive their partners, divorce, etc.
People who are 70 today were in college in 1968, the height of the days of hippies and “free love.” It’s not surprising this demographic wouldn’t’ be overly concerned about “shacking up.”
Friends of my parents who are on second marriages are definitely shacking up (first spouses died). My parents said they would do the same in a similar situation.
What would the benefits be to getting married if you have legal documents giving your partner the requisite rights and you’re old enough not to give a hoot what anyone thinks any longer?
As long as you have the legal documents squared away and there are no young children adversely affected, I would likely do whatever makes the most financial sense for me and my partner. Some benefits–medical insurance, pensions can be forever lost if you re-marry vs staying “single,” whatever your living arrangements. Being pragmatic about pros and cons seems sensible to me.
And of course two people who earn roughly the same amount will save a lot of money in income taxes if they don’t file jointly as a married couple.
To me, marriage is important for raising kids, not so much for older adults that don’t plan to jointly raise any.
definitely have the legalities lined up . . . we had some big problems with MIL’s boyfriend when things got rough with her Parkinson’s disease. There are some bitter feelings on all sides (long story).
Sometimes there are hard feelings after an older couple marries and there is a death. The “kids” are upset if assets aren’t distributed to them but go to new spouse instead. It can make for strains and hard feelings and is very sad, imho.
I know a widow that married an older widower. He later died, leaving everything to her. His kids are now estranged because all was left to her.
An older relative is a widow and then lived with one guy who had died and is now living with a second partner. She’s happy, he’s happy.
My mother was widowed in her early 50’s and recently remarried at 78 to a widower of 88. I say remarried because we had a religious ceremony, but they did not legally marry because of financial reasons. We hired an elder law specialist to do a prenup spelling out what will happen to apartment, furnishings, etc. Everything is working out very well, because all the children on both sides were so happy for our parents and we watched out for each family’s needs and wishes.
Prenups can be very helpful, to clearly spell out how assets will be divided so that the partners have a clear agreement of what they want and there are no “surprises.” money and assets can cause some very long-lasting grudges.
My Mom was preoccupied with the passing of assets in her later life. She made a will and made sure we all knew that all the heirloom China and Silver and jewelry went to us if she passed. Just in case Dad remarried a “floozy”. We just laughed. But right after she passed we went into the house and went through all the good stuff “just in case”. It’s not like my Dad was ever going to serve High Tea or entertain the Queen with gold China anyways.
Oldmom4896–that is one of the reasons D1 has not married her long time partner. They would have to pay a significant amount more in taxes! What is wrong with this picture?!?
H and I shacked up before we were married 31 years ago. If we were no longer together for whatever reason, I suppose I would shack up again if I met someone.
More likely, I would prefer for each of us to have our own places so that I wouldn’t have to constantly have to deal with all the stuff I hate dealing with living with another person! Why does my H crumple all the towels in the house even though I tell him they won’t dry? Why does he leave every light on in the house even while complaining about utility bills? Why does he…?
STI rates are also rising fastest among older individuals than another demographic group.
Older individuals are the worst about using condoms because they figure they’re past childbearing age so no need. (There are also physiological reasons why women especially are more vulnerable to STIs post-menopause.) Some of my friends in repro health have started giving sex ed lessons in places they never thought- like retirement homes/communities!
H and I didn’t marry until our D (#2 of 5) was a year old. I married him in large part because of health insurance. I could add him to my plan and he was paying about $5K/year in the early 90’s. Also, so that I would have someone who could make decisions for me if I became a vegetable or the like and vice versa.
At this point, if I were to ever be single, I would not remarry ever again unless it was to a very wealthy man with no heirs… LOL! However, since I am certain that H would remarry, I insisted that our assets be placed into a trust for our children and future grandchildren so no bimbo could get my kids’ inheritance.
Watch out, techmom, a wealthy man with no heirs can still leave every penny to a charity. 
(The shacking up elders will keep elder law and estate planners employed… )
“STI rates are also rising fastest among older individuals than another demographic group.”
I would imagine that Viagra and its competitors have played some role in that increase for this age group. 
It is actually a very serious issue, and the lack of use of protection is mostly driven by the fact that pregnancy is no longer a concern. Add STI illiteracy, and we are facing an epidemic of drug-resistant STIs.
Here is a good article summing up the issues:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/derrick-y-mcdaniel/sex-and-seniors-stds-a-ne_b_9619778.html