There is a strong argument for older couples, regardless of their affection, to get divorced. According to Professor Richard Kaplan, an expert in elder law and income tax, the taxation system in the United States is so "bizarre" that taxes are higher on a married couple than an unmarried couple with the exact same finances. In an article from MarketWatch summarizing Kaplan's recent publication "Preferencing Nonmarriage in Later Years," Kaplan is quoted on several ways the taxation system penalizes seniors that are married, including taxes starting at a lower threshold and Medicaid only covering medical expenses once a couple's assets are essentially nonexistent.
Read the full piece at MarketWatch.