Older Britons do not plan to let their advanced age hold them back in the bedroom, a survey suggests.
A total of 53 percent of people over 75 said they wanted to remain sexually active as they grew older, the research found.
Those aged 66 to 74 had similar desires: 51 percent wanted to maintain romantic activities as they grew older. This increased to 62 percent among people aged 55 to 65.
And far from thinking it was a shame-worthy topic, nearly two-thirds of Generation Z (61 percent) insisted they would continue making love into old age.
The findings are based on a survey of more than 1,000 adults of all ages conducted by Home Instead, a care provider.
While this may make younger relatives embarrassed, most older Brits don’t plan on being held back by their advanced age in the bedroom, a survey suggests.
Stella Ralfini, a 77-year-old tantric sex expert, said the importance of a good sex life in old age cannot be underestimated.
Men were more interested in staying sexually active as they got older: 74 percent wanted to do so, compared to 49 percent of women.
While sex was on the cards, fewer respondents were interested in dating as they got older and less than half of those over 55 said they would be interested in looking for love if they were single.
The majority across all age groups, 60 percent, said they believed staying sexually active would help with their mental health when they were older.
Commenting on the findings, Home Rather chief executive Martin Jones said the survey as a whole shows that society needs to rethink what it expects of older people.
“Older people are getting younger,” he said. ‘By this I mean that the way people age is changing and they increasingly prefer a completely different lifestyle to the traditional image of what old age means.
‘The image we may have of retirees whose horizons have been narrowed to just a bit of daytime television and a cup of tea simply does not stand up to scrutiny.
‘Age is a biological reality but it is also a social construction. People don’t need to be limited by it like before.’
Stella Ralfini, a 77-year-old tantric sex expert, said the importance of a good sex life in old age cannot be underestimated.
“It’s one of the things that makes me feel young,” he said.
‘I like to see my lover twice a week and we make love every two weeks, but if we’re gone for a week, probably a little longer, date nights aren’t just for young people.
“It’s still a wonderful feeling to know that you are desirable.”
However, he said there was a need to re-educate older Britons about what sex and intimacy can be.
“It’s about fun and other ways to reach orgasm that are comfortable for both of you,” she said.
One activity that all couples should be able to enjoy is cuddling naked in bed.
“You don’t have to do all the things you might think, just the petting, the tenderness,” she said.
‘There are many ways to keep intimacy alive and intimacy is very important in keeping older people ‘young.’
And although she insists she is a fan of men, Ralfini said male lovers need a particular rethink about sex at their age.
“It would be wonderful if 60-year-old men could retrain,” he said.
‘Men are very attached to what’s inside their pants, but they don’t understand foreplay enough.
“Older men taking Viagra doesn’t work for older women; the last thing she wants is to be pushed around for hours.”
Sex and intimacy are known to improve our heart health, reduce stress, and improve mental health by easing feelings of depression and anxiety.
The NHS and charities representing older Britons have long argued that growing older does not mean giving up either pleasure or intimacy.
However, older Britons may face barriers to this, whether navigating the world of sex after the loss of a long-term partner or seeking help for health problems that disrupt their sex lives.
For men, this can be erectile dysfunction and for women, dealing with the possible changes that come with sexual desire after menopause, which, on average, occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
Other problems, such as arthritis, are not gender-specific, but can have a drastic impact on a senior’s ability to enjoy themselves in the bedroom.
Some older Britons may feel embarrassed seeking medical help for sexual problems, especially if they are doing so for the first time in their lives.
However, they are urged to see their GP if they have any concerns about their sexual health and doctors themselves are urged not to dismiss this aspect of older people’s health.
While sexual wellness is seen as a boon to the health of older Britons, it is naturally not without risks which experts have warned older people may underestimate.
Official data shows pensioners aged 65 and over experienced the second-highest increase in STIs last year, with new cases rising by almost a fifth to 2,885.
Figures show 558 cases of gonorrhea in this age group in 2023, a An increase of 44 percent over the 387 registered in 2019.
Chlamydia rates saw a similar rise of more than a third (39 per cent) to 770 last year.
Experts have previously blamed the rise of ‘silver swipers’ for the rise, with dating apps such as Tinder and Hinge believed to allow older people to meet new sexual partners more easily than before.
Another problem believed to be behind the increase is a lack of awareness about using condoms to prevent the transmission of STIs, with some older people abandoning them due to not worrying about unplanned pregnancies.
Perspectives on sex were just one aspect of Home Rather’s ‘The New Aging Index.’
A total of 66 percent of respondents endorsed diet and exercise as a way to stay young and 67 percent of older respondents said they believed medical advances would further increase life expectancy in the near future. .
Furthermore, 89 per cent of older Britons – those over 75 – want to remain physically active.