Survey reveals age is no barrier to sex
Older Scots don’t get enough sex and want more, a charity survey has revealed.
Independent Age, the older people’s charity, found that over half of people aged 65 and over in Scotland say they aren’t getting enough sex.
It also found one in 10 over-75s have had multiple sexual partners since turning 65.
The charity said its UK-wide survey showed age was "no barrier to having a sex life".
Alarmingly about one in 11 over-65s said they did not take any precautions against sexually transmitted infections when they started having sex with a new partner.
Lucy Harmer, director of services at Independent Age, said older people were more sexually active than many people might think.
"The generation that is reaching 65 and older now is the baby boomers. I don't think anyone has ever told them they should be stopping,” she said.
"People of that generation have a slightly different approach to sex, maybe, than the 80 to 85-year-olds did."
For Valentine's Day: tips to maintain romance in later life
- Talk to your partner about how you feel and try to see things from their perspective
- Communicate to your partner about what you both want and need sexually
- Have body confidence
- Experiment - for some that might include having a same-sex relationship for the first time
- Practise safe sex, as STIs can still be passed on
Dennis Allen has not let age stand in the way of his and his wife's sex life.
The 84-year-old married Pauline, 85, his fourth wife, in 2004.
He said the pair were on average sexually active twice a week.
"If you're up for it, you should enjoy life," he said.
"You never know when you're going to be past your sell-by date."
Dennis said both he and Pauline, 85, had made sure to exercise and look after themselves, in part so they remained attractive to each other.
He said: "Let's put it frankly, if you were a young lady and you saw your husband was sitting there with a great big beer belly, smoking a fag out of his mouth, what would would you think? Would you fancy him?
"My wife has always looked very attractive. She won't go out of the door unless she looks the part, and she won't let me go out of the door unless I look the part."
