Record number of Danes are now aged 90 or older

More than 50,000 people in Denmark are now aged 90 or older for the first time, according to new figures from Statistics Denmark reported by DR. Among them is 90-year-old Gurli Henriksen, who recently reached the milestone.

Henriksen shares much of her daily life with 92-year-old Kurt Flemming Jespersen. The couple celebrated her 90th birthday a few weeks ago at Fynshoved Grill, a grill restaurant in Martofte on northern Funen.

“I had a fantastic day here with many good friends, hugs, embraces and lots of congratulations,” Henriksen told DR News when they met her at the restaurant.

The couple live in separate homes in Odense and Langeskov but spend a great deal of time together. They dance, meet friends and enjoy spending time in social settings.

Henriksen has also been passionate about Lego for several years. She had to persuade Jespersen to try it.

“The first time he saw Lego, he said, ‘I’ll never do that. Why would you bother?’ But then he came over and started putting pieces together too. Now he is just as crazy about it as I am,” Henriksen said with a laugh.

Keeping busy

Both Henriksen and Jespersen say it is important to stay active, even though they have long since retired and have no obligations beyond those they choose for themselves.

“When you get older, you shouldn’t just sink into an armchair with your partner. For goodness’ sake, get out,” Jespersen said.

“Get out. Whether you dance, sing or stand on your head, it doesn’t matter. Just get out among other people,” Henriksen added.

A second chance

Henriksen and Jespersen have shared their lives for eight years, but their relationship could have begun much earlier. They first met more than 60 years ago at a dance bar in Odense, where Jespersen had gone out with friends as a young soldier.

He noticed Henriksen on the dance floor and danced with her several times. But although he began to develop feelings for her, nothing more came of it because Henriksen was already in a relationship and had children.

“I danced a lot with Gurli, and one evening I dared to ask whether it could be the two of us. But it couldn’t,” Jespersen said.

Eight years ago, they happened to meet again at Seniorhuset in Odense on a cold day in December.

“We are good friends. Others call us a couple. But we spend a lot of time together, both day and night,” Henriksen said, acknowledging that they occasionally describe themselves as a couple.