Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner Says Red Flags Aren't Always a Bad Thing: 'Trying to Stay Open-Minded' (Exclusive)

Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner is trying his best to go with the flow as he dips a toe back into the dating pool.

Speaking to PEOPLE during a set visit for the show's first group date, the 72-year-old opens up about the qualities he's looking for in a partner and why he doesn't necessarily think "red flags" are always a bad thing.

"I'm trying really hard to stay open-minded," the Golden Bachelor star shares. "Because something may look like a red flag on its surface, but when you explore it a little bit further, you might find that it's not a problem at all."

Turner clarifies that there are a few things that would be a no-go for him in a partner. For instance, he says he "would not date a smoker." He also adds that he would be hesitant about a "serious geographical obstacle" — but he's not sure even that would be a dealbreaker.

In sharp contrast, when asked about the most important qualities he seeks in a partner, the Indiana native is quick to list many green flags.

"There's many things that are valuable to me," he says. "I think sense of humor ranks very high, and if that sense of humor extends to where they can laugh at themselves, that's even better. And I think I need to see strong family values, something that's similar to my own."

The Golden Bachelor welcomed two daughters, Jenny and Angie — who are now in their 40s — with his late wife, Toni. The high school sweethearts were married for 43 years until Toni suddenly died of an illness in 2017.

"Compatibility to me means that if I'm doing something that maybe my partner doesn't 100 percent feel good about, that she knows how to bring me down and put me on the right path," he explains, "and that I can do the same for her."

Turner was announced in July as the star of ABC's latest Bachelor spinoff. The series follows retired restaurateur as he dates 22 senior women — including Bachelor alum Matt James' mom Patty — in hopes of finding his match.

In a preview clip that aired during The Bachelorette: Men Tell All in August, the reality star opened up to host Jesse Palmer, 44, about how he wants to "fall in love" and find "my person" to spend his golden years with.

“I hope at the end of it, I find the person that I'll spend the rest of my life with that will complete our family," he said at the time. "The person who can lay down beside you at night, not have to say anything and you feel it."

"That’s love," he continued. "That’s what I want and I know that person’s out there."

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The Golden Bachelor airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.