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“At 50-plus, we can redesign how we consider our relationships,” adds Suzanne Noble, 63, who runs a podcast and TikTok channel with 153k followers called _Sex Advice for Seniors_. She says

to liberate yourself from the societal expectations of what a partner needs to be and consider instead what you want at this stage of life. “It’s far easier, for instance, to find someone

that simply wants to meet up on the weekends, than a full on, live-together relationship,” says Noble, who lives in London. Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Courtesy of Suzanne Noble; Getty

Images (3) And you may not be looking for a second or third marriage anyway. Damona Hoffman, a celebrity dating coach with 24k loyal Instagram followers, author of _F the Fairy Tale_ and

host of _The Dates & Mates Podcast_, gets real about ditching the dating stereotypes. “Sometimes we buy into the fairy tale and think we should always be in pursuit of marriage and the

white picket fence, but our needs for a relationship change as we get older, and sometimes that can also broaden our dating pool,” she says. But you can also choose to live apart, have an

open relationship commitment without a goal of marriage, or any number of options that align with your lifestyle. DON’T OVERSHARE ABOUT THE PAST While you’ll inevitably ask each other

questions in the initial chatting phase, try to steer the conversation away from past relationships. “If you're over 50, you probably have lots of exes to talk about,” Hoffman says.

“There's nothing worse than commiserating with someone sexy over crazy exes and wondering if that's how they'll talk about you next.” If a potential date asks about your

divorce or why your last relationship ended, get in and get out. “Just flirtatiously turn the conversation back to them,” Hoffman says. A good rule of thumb that influencer Grandma D swears

by is “If he still talks to his ex, watch out, because life is too short for more drama.” WATCH OUT FOR ROMANCE SCAMS In the era of scammers, catfishing is a very real threat. In 2023 alone,

romance scammers stole $277 million from daters over 60. “There’s lots of research to support the idea that when the brain is assaulted with a delicious cocktail of love hormones, it

actually has a hard time discerning and it experiences many delusions,” Walsh says. This, she explains, is a perfect condition for a romance scammer to swoop in and ask for money. The most

common scam she sees is when online daters establish a relationship, gain a victim’s trust, make excuses about why they can’t meet in person, then make up a reason for needing money, like

helping a sick family member. “The best rule to follow is that nothing is real until you meet in person,” says Orna Walters, a 58-year-old dating coach, who together with her husband,

Matthew, 57, break down the intricacies of a romantic connection on their blog and Instagram account. She tells clients to not invest emotionally until they’ve met with someone in-person

several times. Be suspicious about unsolicited texts or emails, limit what details you share when getting to know someone virtually, be wary of sending money and ultimately listen to your

gut. If something feels off, it probably is! TRY NEW THINGS … AND TYPES OF PARTNERS Consider choosing fresh places for your dates, says May Hui Bugenhagen, a professional matchmaker who goes

by Matchmaker. May, 52, who splits her time between Los Angeles and Colorado Springs, Colorado, and uses her Instagram to discuss everything from identifying gold diggers to dating as an

Asian American. “Avoid revisiting spots that remind you of the past, as it’s important to embrace new experiences without comparisons,” she says. “Instead, focus on building new memories

together and enjoying the journey ahead.” And don’t be afraid to give new people a try. “There’s always the temptation to go for your type, but if your type hasn’t worked out, it’s valuable

to expand your horizons and try new people on for size,” says Evan Marc Katz, a 52-year-old dating coach for older women with 31k Instagram followers who discusses everything from dating

anxiety to facing rejection in the dating world. Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Starla Fortunato; Getty Images (3)) DON’T COMPARE “It’s tempting to compare a new partner to a previous spouse

or significant other,” says McCusker. But dwelling in the past, she says, can lead you down a path of never finding someone good enough for your present. This can be especially important for

those divorced or widowed, where it’s natural to compare a new partner to an ex. “Instead, embrace the unique qualities of your current relationship and allow it to stand on its own.” “The

relationships we develop later in life deserve to be appreciated for what they are rather than for the ways in which they differ from prior experiences we’ve had,” says Alexandra Solomon,

founder of the Institute for Relational Self-Awareness, who talks about how to handle the emotional impact of dating to her 221k Instagram followers. “Celebrate the differences between then

and now rather than trying to figure out what is better/worse about the relationship you’re building in this era.”