Older Couples thrive with Separate Living Arrangements

A new study finds that older adults in LAT (living apart together) relationships enjoy mental health benefits akin to marriage, minus the challenges of cohabitation. LAT fosters gender-equal dynamics, allowing seniors to balance family commitments with intimate partnerships. Unlike younger LAT couples, older adults often view this lifestyle as permanent.

“While the study found marriage and its protections offered marginally greater mental health benefits for the over-60s, they found there was less of a risk to mental health with LAT break-ups than there was with a marriage or cohabitation ending.”