Finally, older divorce may be more common than any other time in history for a simple reason: People are living longer, says Brown. If you survive to age 65, you may live another 20 years, which is a long time to spend with someone you're no longer happy with, she says. “You might want to call it quits.”

What is the main reason seniors get divorced?

In addition to divorces caused by senior care expenses, seniors are also divorcing for the more common reason of irreconcilable differences. At this stage in life, some seniors are motivated by the possibility of pursuing life ventures that their spouses may not share and feel divorce will allow them to do such things.

Are older couples more likely to divorce?

The authors assessed how the relative age of spouses affects whether men or women initiate a divorce, using data from the National Survey of Families and Households. ... The main conclusion is that both men and women are more likely to leave if their spouse is older than they are.