Lesley Joseph urges over 50s to ‘channel their inner Dorien’

This weekend of love sees the Birds of a Feather and Night and Day star championing ‘Life is for living at every age’…

A new survey of adults over 50 has found, 78 per cent view romance as a vital aspect of their emotional wellbeing revealing love and passion continue to thrive in later life, in a contrast to stereotypes.

The research challenges misconceptions about romance among adults over 50 with more than three quarters viewing romance as a vital aspect of their emotional wellbeing, demonstrating that meaningful connections transcend age.

Despite societal stereotypes suggesting older adults are less romantically inclined, fresh research reveals a different narrative. Merely 37 per cent of respondents recognised these age-related misconceptions, whilst 95 per cent affirm that romance transcends age boundaries. Notably, 82 per cent report a more profound understanding of their romantic desires compared to their younger years.

When asked which cultural figures inspire their approach to love, respondents named Richard Gere for his open-hearted charm, Bridget Jones for her relentless pursuit of love, and Dorien Green from Birds of a Feather for her fearless confidence—proving that romance is truly timeless.

Actor Lesley Joseph as Dorien Green with an Uplifts homelift

TV star Lesley Joseph, who famously portrayed Dorien Green in the hit sitcom, is championing this message: “Confidence is key,” Joseph says. “Life is for living at every age – in fact, seizing opportunities and embracing new adventures becomes even more rewarding when you feel secure and comfortable in your own home.”

As romance evolves later in life, a comfortable and accessible home plays a crucial role in fostering confidence and independence. Uplifts’ research shows that making simple home adaptations can have a profound impact on quality of life and relationships.

The poll of over 1,000* individuals by Uplifts, a leading homelifts manufacturer, saw findings such as 78 per cent consider romance a crucial part of their lives, 74 per cent feel more liberated to express themselves romantically, 34 per cent do not find maintaining romance after 50 challenging and 16 per cent value romance more now than when they were younger.

Sam Stannah, CEO of Uplifts and sixth-generation leader of the Stannah family business, comments:

“A homelift isn’t just about mobility – it’s about maintaining independence and intimacy in your home. By enabling easy movement between floors, our lifts help couples continue sharing every moment of their life together. And let’s be honest, this Valentine’s Day, no one wants to be stuck downstairs when the romance happens upstairs!”