'Happily Ever After' Comes A Little Later For Some

Kirsten McIntyre, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Perhaps a spouse has passed away or a lengthy marriage has ended in divorce. Regardless, senior Oklahomans aren't giving up on finding love again. And this time around, many are using a new tool they didn't have before.

A quick search of Match.com shows hundreds of Oklahoma seniors looking to reenter the dating world. But there are also many online dating sites designed just for seniors, such as Seniormatch.com or Seniorfriendfinder.com. Still, some seniors say finding love online just isn't for them.

"The internet dating didn't work out for me," Georgia Fiering said. Her 23-year marriage ended nine years ago in divorce.

"It wasn't a bad thing. It just didn't work out really well for me. I've mostly been successful with people knowing someone and introducing you to them."

Fiering says she's had to learn some new rules since she started dating again, such as it's now acceptable for women to call men. She says she also has to consider her safety. She meets her dates as opposed to them coming to her home.

Dr. Stewart Beasley says fighting loneliness is a common problem for many seniors. And even when they do find love again, the relationship can cost them.

"Unfortunately, the way our financial laws are written with social security, to remarry, a lot of citizens have to give up their financial packages," said Dr. Beasley. "So more and more senior citizens are choosing just to live together and share their lives together."