Recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics have revealed that although the overall divorce rate in England and Wales has been falling since the mid-1990s, there has been a steady increase in the number of over-60s who are choosing to get divorced.
Responding to these figures, relationship support charity Relate’s Chief Executive, Ruth Sutherland, said, “It is clear from today’s statistics that there are many pressures facing couples as they grow older. Relationships are often missing in the current debate on our ageing society but 83% of people we surveyed aged over 50 told us that strong personal relationships were the most important factor to a happy later life. This data shows once again that this is a very real issue for many older people.
“Relate is continuing to call for a Minister of State for Ageing Society and for people to think about the importance of relationships at all stages of life. This would help to drive a consistent strategy in central and local government, putting healthy relationships at the heart of a achieving a good quality life as we get older, alongside health and financial security.”
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