How to have a lasting relationship, according to care home residents
If you're going to get your relationship tips from anywhere this Valentine's Day, get them from someone with experience and wisdom.
And with decades of experience themselves, these care home residents have shared their wisdom for younger generations.
From 80-year-olds with decades of marriage behind them to a 102-year-old with one simple message for lasting love, they've provided nuggets of advice you'll truly remember (...some more surprising than others).
Derek and Jill
Childhood sweethearts Derek, 82, and Jill, 80, who met in 1958, first fell in love while adventuring on Derek's motorbike. Happily married for more than 60 years, they attribute the longevity of their bond to the importance of "finding someone you can enjoy life with".
Even when they faced challenging times in 1960 when Derek endured a serious road accident, leaving him unable to work for two and a half years, their love held true. "This just drew us closer together, and since that time, we have never been apart," he says Derek, who looks forward to visiting Jill at Haling Park care home in Croydon everyday.
George and Mary
George, 88, and Mary, 87, met as teenagers at a village hall dance, saying it was "love at first sight" and they have "never looked back". Residents at Tickford Abbey care home in Newport Pagnell, they are preparing to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary.
They both agree it's essential to keep the spark from the very beginning of a relationship alive, explaining, "the greatest thing about our marriage is that we have always been wild!" and it's important to "have a bit of sugar now and again to keep the flame alive".
But honouring the tough times too, they say their secret to a lengthy relationship is respecting each other, as they "have always stuck by each other during hardship – struggling together when we were younger made us a team!"
Some other dos and don'ts for long-lasting relationships shared by Lottie's care home residents (with plenty of life and love experience), include...
Greta
Greta, 84, holds up a sign with her dos and don'ts for a long-lasting relationship, with online searchers for 'help me find love' increasing by 100% since the start of February.
She advises to not take any nonsense, and do 'smack their bottoms'.
Janet
Janet, 79, is all for taking your time.
She is seen holding up a whiteboard that says, 'I would not let him get a kiss on the first date'.
As online searchers for 'dating and relationship advice' have grown by 50% this month, this might be the wisdom you're looking for.
Pauline
And for 91-year-old Pauline, letting her husband do the cooking is a huge no-no, as she will 'only eat beans on toast'.
However, funnily enough, her number one tip is to 'talk to each other'...maybe not about his cooking skills though.
Colin
For Colin, 84, it's all about being realistic and learning from the hard times.
He is seen holding up a sheet of paper asking his top dating advice, and he wrote, 'Look, listen and learn. Don't think it will be easy'.
We love that, Colin!
Ray
For 78-year-old Ray, his advice is a bit more cut-throat.
He advises you to not get married, but to 'test the water 3 times just in case'. We are not sure what that means, but luckily, we've already passed Divorce Day for this year.
And, here are a few more tips from elderly residents in care homes:
Winnie
Perhaps most importantly, 102-year-old Winnie shares the most simple secret to long-lasting love is "to just love each other".
Grace
Care home resident Grace, 88, also advises, "Do make sure he is good-looking."
Sure, it's what's on the inside that counts, but this certainly helps...
Hazel
Hazel, 81, says, "Do fight through the hard times."
Terence
Terence, 88, urges, "Do as you are told", if you want a happy, lasting relationship.
Nancy
Nancy, 87, says her top bits of advice are "Never go to bed angry", "Do listen to your partner's point of view", and "Don't take your partner for granted."
Read more: Experts reveal the 'perfect age' to tie the knot to avoid the chance of divorce (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
Read more: The 5 signs you should try couple's therapy, as Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy reveal they'd 'love to do it' (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
Read more: Should couples spend more time apart? Matthew McConaughey reveals his nine-day rule (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
