Casual sex isn’t just for the young. Here’s how to get your groove on... Without the commitment

One-night stands, booty calls, friends with benefits … When you think of casual sex, images of drunken college students may come to mind. But older adults are also embracing

no-strings-attached sex. In fact, according to an AARP survey, one-third of adults over 50 are in the market for a casual relationship. And 39 percent of those surveyed have fantasized about

having sex with a stranger. Casual sex can be appealing to you as an older adult for a number of reasons. You may have lost or divorced a partner recently and might not be ready for

something serious. Or maybe you just want some sexual gratification without the courting. But where do you begin? We asked relationship experts to share tips on everything from where to find

partners to how to manage emotional expectations and have safe sexual encounters when you’re looking for a casual sex relationship as an older adult. Do some soul-searching to identify what

you want Start by considering exactly what you are looking for in the casual sex department, says Carol Queen, author of _The Sex & Pleasure Book: Good Vibrations Guide to Great Sex for

Everyone_. “Friend with benefits, a one-time hookup, some other option in the open-relationship multiverse? Is this a chance to explore kink or Tantra or just no-holds-barred getting it

on?” says Queen. She also suggests being clear with yourself about what you do not want, either in terms of the type of connection or the sex you have. “Many older adults have gone through

the pain of divorce or loss of a partner and have little interest in marrying again,” says Stephanie Manes, a licensed clinical social worker who teaches couples therapy at Columbia

University. And women who have spent their entire lives caring for others may be enjoying a newfound freedom they are reluctant to give up. “To many women, being in a partnership means

putting herself on the back burner and someone else’s needs first,” adds Manes. Casual hookups can be a great way to get some needs met without having to worry about the emotional needs of

others. LOOK FOR PARTNERS IN THE RIGHT PLACES DATING APPS. There seems to be a dating service for everything these days, and there are apps geared toward helping people have sex without

commitment, says Manes.   The Feeld, for instance, is an app that prides itself on providing a place for people of all backgrounds to explore sexual encounters outside of existing

blueprints. It’s a popular service for people looking for all sorts of sexual experiences, including older adults seeking no-strings-attached love. “You can also find folks looking for

something casual on the more traditional sites, like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble,” says Manes. Want to stick to dating people your age? Try out apps specifically geared for the 50-plus, such as

SilverSingles and OurTime. Many of these dating apps give you space to include what you are looking for in your profile, and Manes encourages people to be honest. “You might not want to say

that you are looking for casual sex in your Hinge profile, but you should state that you are only interested in something casual or short-term,” she says. These apps also have some built-in

safety features for extra peace of mind, such as the ability to block and report users so they can no longer see your profile and the chance to provide feedback about any unsatisfactory

behavior experienced on a first date. FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS. Have a friend you’ve been flirty with? Another way to find a casual sex partner is to work in some “benefits.” The positive here

is that you already know this person and likely feel comfortable being around them. “Flirt to see if they might be interested,” says Lori Beth Bisbey, an intimacy and sex coach. A good way

to do this, she says, is to invite them to a romantic film. This can lead to a natural conversation and set the mood. “Pay attention to see if there is any sexual tension between you,” she

adds. “If there is, check out how they feel about casual sexual relationships.” If this goes well, she says, you can then be more direct and ask if they are interested in a that kind of

arrangement. Just be ready for them to be at a different place in their lives — working through a divorce or loss of a loved one and not looking for the same thing as you. “Remember that

rejection is a regular part of finding casual sex partners — don’t take it personally,” says Bisbey.