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When we think of Valentine’s
Day, young couples come to
mind, but love and romance
aren’t limited to one age
group. When we assume that
older adults cease to function
as sexual beings, we do them
a great disservice, and we
perpetuate the belief that sex
past a certain age is less erotic.
The truth is, older adults
remain sexually active well into
their 70s and 80s, according to
widely reported data from the
“English Longitudinal Study
of Ageing.” Fifty-four percent
of the men and 31 percent of
the women surveyed said they
were still having sex, with onethird
of them having sex at least
twice a month. Other studies
report people in their 90s still
engaging in sexual acts.
We should encourage
older adults to stay busy in
the bedroom because sexual
activity among this age group
improves cognitive function in
the areas of verbal fluency and
visual perception, according
to an Oxford University study
published in 2017 in the
Journals of Gerontology, Series
B. In other words, the brain
might benefit from replacing
the Sunday crossword puzzle
with some physical affection.
So why does society assume
that older adults embrace
abstinence as a general rule?
The answer is simple: ageism.
The late Robert N. Butler, a
physician whose name graces
Columbia University’s Aging
Center, coined the term in
the 1960s. Ageism fosters
discrimination and puts older
adults at risk of being ignored,
meaning their well-being, health
and other needs go unmet by
loved ones, social workers and
even medical professionals.
To that end, it is important
to remember that age doesn’t
protect people from the risks
associated with unprotected
sex. The threat of an unplanned
pregnancy may no longer be a
concern, but the potentially
dangerous consequences of
engaging in unsafe sex still
exist. The spread of sexually
transmitted infections, such as
chlamydia and gonorrhea, is on
the rise among older adults; an
HIV or syphilis diagnosis can
have life-long consequences,
including the possibility of a
dementia diagnosis for some
longtime syphilis sufferers.
We encourage seniors to
embrace the companionship
and other benefits of sexual
intimacy, but we also want
them to be safe and healthy.
The New York City Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene
offers STI testing, vaccines and
counseling services at clinics
for little to no cost. To find a
clinic near you, call 311.
DONNA CORRADO,
Commissioner of the City’s
Department for the Aging
Why romantic relationships
and sex still matter as we age