Care homes can be a “hot bed of romance” with one in four staff saying they have seen residents fall in love, a survey shows.

Experts said the poll of 2,800 care home managers, owners and staff found that romance was still alive in old age.

While some couples have ended up being separated, an increasing number of care homes are now offering couple rooms, they survey found, with 27 per cent having such provision.

Sue Learner, editor of carehome.co.uk, said: “These findings show life doesn’t end when you go into a care home and in fact they can be a hotbed for romance. Adults of all ages have emotional and physical needs and it is ageist to presume older people are not interested in relationships.

“Love is a basic human need and it is encouraging to see that nearly a third of care home are now offering rooms for couples as it can be heartbreaking when couples who have been together all their lives are torn apart.”

The polling by reviews site, carehome.co.uk, also revealed 23 per cent of those working in the sector think residents should be allowed visits from sex workers, while two per cent say their residents do actually receive such visits.