Kelly Ripa, 54, made a lighthearted comment about divorcing her husband and ABC co-host Mark Consuelos, 53, but experts warn that ending a marriage at the age of 50 and older is a serious matter. Ripa brought up the topic on an episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark” after reading an article about the increasing number of older couples getting divorced. The term “gray divorces” refers to spouses over 50 years old ending their marriages, and this trend is on the rise across the country.
According to research published in the Journals of Gerontology, 36 percent of adults in the United States who get divorced are aged 50 or older. Additionally, couples over 65 years old are experiencing an increasing divorce rate. Kimberly Best, a dispute resolution expert from Tennessee’s Best Conflict Solutions, explains that emotionally there can be feelings of loneliness and isolation for older adults who relied on their spouse for social support. There is also stigma and judgment from family members, friends, and society.
Consuelos seemed surprised by Ripa’s interest in this topic during their conversation on air. The couple has been married for 26 years and has three children together. They reassured their audience that divorce is not on their horizon because they still have many things in common.
Divorce can be challenging for any couple regardless of age; however, after reaching age 50 there are additional factors to consider such as accumulated assets that may be difficult to divide. Depending on the state where they reside, assets may not always be split equally during divorce proceedings.
While it may seem more socially acceptable now than in previous generations to get divorced later in life, many older couples take into account the family unit they have created before making such a decision. Family law attorney Anna Blood points out that these couples will inevitably share grandchildren together.
Staying married offers benefits such as physical health advantages according to Marina Shepelsky from New York’s Shepelsky Law Group. A U.S Medicare Health Outcome Survey found that married individuals between ages 65-85 had longer total life expectancy compared to unmarried individuals within the same age range.
Nicole Moore,a celebrity love coach and relationship expert explains how embracing traditional values can lead to growth within long-term marriages instead of giving up when faced with difficulties.