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Secrets to long-lasting marriages revealed in Senior survey…Golden Couples Living at Sunrise Senior Living Communities provide Insight into Their 50+-year Relationships
 

MCLEAN, Va., Feb / -- Sunrise Senior Living , one of the largest providers of senior living services with more than 450 communities worldwide, shared the results of a recent survey conducted among couples who have been married 50+ years and spent more than five decades of special Valentine's Days together.

Sunrise communities will mark this year's celebration of love with their own Valentine's Day dances, receptions and senior proms. To give perspective to these special occasions, residents were asked what they attribute to the longevity and success of their relationships. Results revealed their top ten secrets to a long-lasting and satisfying marriage:

  1.  Don't Go to Bed Angry

      While many couples acknowledged that at times, they went to bed

annoyed, they didn't allow their anger to linger long.

  2.  Share "I Love Yous" Regularly

      Some husbands and wives remember to share these words before going to work each morning while others found it a part of their nightly

routine.

  3.  Kiss Each Other Goodnight

      Almost all of Sunrise's couples noted the importance of sharing love

and affection regularly and what better way to keep a connection then

a kiss goodnight?

  4.  Have an Argument Every Once in While

      One husband remarked that even though they may have disagreed, "she never packed her bags and left" - small misunderstandings are natural and working through them together is important.

  5.  Respect and Trust Each Other

      A majority of couples said that respecting and trusting their spouse

was an integral part of their success.

  6.  Enjoy Time Together

      One couple encouraged newlyweds to create a series of honeymoons, while others reminisced about nights of dinner and dancing out on the

      town.

  7.  Be Understanding and Compromise

      Some husbands joked that they do whatever their wives tell them, but all the couples attributed their happiness to recognizing the

strengths and weaknesses of their spouse and mastering the art of give

and take.

  8.  Laugh Together

      Being good friends first and laughing with --and at -- each other was

      a common theme of the surveying.

  9.  Communicate and Listen

      A resident recommended that one should "have an intelligent partner and then listen to them" as all Sunrise couples recognized the

importance of communicating with partners and of course, understanding

when you might have to just "shut up."

  10. Celebrate Special Occasions

      Many couples shared stories of their romantic trips to mark birthdays,

holidays and anniversaries, while others remarked that they spend

every day like its Valentine's Day - setting aside special private

time for each other.

Other notable findings include advice such as: people should find out as much as they can about each other before they get married; go on regular dates; treat the other how they would want to be treated; overlook the faults; don't put all your thoughts on money; and consider marriage a joint endeavor.

"Love is important no matter your age. The comfort of love and the feelings brought on by romantic relationships seem to help and console seniors, particularly as they continue to age.

"At Sunrise, because our environment fosters a home-like setting, many couples can stay together just as they would in their own home - which sustains their love. In fact, our survey revealed that living in the type of assisted living community Sunrise offers, helped eliminate the stress one experiences when caring for a home or when meeting the needs of an aging loved one.

"Many Sunrise residents also find new love in the communities in which they reside, another example of how Sunrise improves their quality of life," noted Tiffany Tomasso, chief operating officer for Sunrise.

According to the U.S. Administration on Aging, the population aged 65 and over will increase from 35 million in 2000 to 40 million in 2010 (a 15% increase) and then to 55 million in 2020 (a 36% increase for that decade). With baby boomers coming of age, the need for senior care and services - coupled with the quest to maintain and enjoy marriage - will continue to escalate.

About Sunrise Senior Living

Sunrise Senior Living, a McLean, Va.-based company, employs approximately 40,000 people. As of September 30, 2007, Sunrise operated 454 communities in the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom, with a combined capacity for more than 53,000 residents.

At quarter end, Sunrise also had 40 communities under construction in these countries with a combined capacity for 6,000 additional residents. Sunrise offers a full range of personalized senior living services, including independent living, assisted living, care for individuals with Alzheimer's and other forms of memory loss, as well as nursing, rehabilitative and hospice care.

Sunrise's senior living services are delivered by staff trained to encourage the independence, preserve the dignity, enable freedom of choice and protect the privacy of residents. To learn more about Sunrise, please visit http://www.sunriseseniorliving.com/.