Finding an Ageless Kind of Love

This program features, Sharon and Gordon,a couple that met at Companion Connections, the first senior speed dating event of its kind that I organized at St. Paul's L'Amoreaux Centre in April 2009. Companion Connections was the forerunner of SilverSparks Speed Dating
MCauch
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On Valentine’s Day 2012, sparks will fly on The Brand New ONE with the world premiere broadcast of Love, Later in Life, an original 30-minute documentary hosted by veteran television journalist Jojo Chintoh.

Love, Later in Life explores the courtship and present life of four sets of couples who unexpectedly fell in love after 45. Lynn and Clarence (48 & 69) met on the golf course; Gordon & Sharon (65 & 70) connected at a seniors’ speed dating event; Hugh and Ethel (93 & 82) met at their retirement residence; and high school sweethearts Ray and Linda (63 & 62) re-kindled their romance over 40 years later.

Widowed or divorced thrice over, most thought it would be nice to find an occasional dinner mate or travel partner, but had closed the book on giving love another shot. Instead, they found much more than they were looking for.

Through intimate interviews, Jojo Chintoh brings viewers their fresh perspectives on passion, relationships, and the meaning of life. Time’s ravaging hands don’t seem to matter anymore. That wrinkle on your face now adds “character”. Those extra pounds really are “love handles”. She wants it platonic, he wants sex, but he’ll abstain for the sake of companionship.

Studies show that sexual and emotional satisfaction actually increases with age, and as our couples unanimously reveal, the secret to a long life is having someone to love. “I can’t believe it. I feel like a kid again. This is silly,” they say.

Age is just a number when it comes to Dating, Mating and Relating.

Love, Later in Life
The Brand New ONE: February 14 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT

Looking for Love on Valentine’s Day

February 3, 2012
By Michele Cauch

It is both banned and celebrated across the globe. Different cultures have various names for it, such as: Affection Day, Friend’s Day, All Hearts’ Day, and White Day. But we know this annual observance as Valentine’s Day. That one day of the year that can either fill you with you bliss or bitterness.

For children, it all seems so innocent. Giving paper cut-outs to friends and gobbling up cinnamon heart candies. A flower from a secret admirer in high school that made single friends envious. Valentine’s Day may be seen as commercialized frivolity as we witness couples exchange gifts of chocolate, teddy bears and greeting cards with hearts and flowers. However, it is also a reminder that people of all ages continue to seek out that greatest emotion known to man–—love.

Canada Love Stats

Finding love at any age can be elusive and deceptive. According to Statistics Canada, more than half the population of Canada is single at 52%. This includes never-married, widowed or divorced. While the proportion of the population of Canada that is married (including legally married, legally married and separated, and common-law unions) is only 48%. In real numbers, this translates into 17,059,166 single men and women of all ages in Canada in 2007. A rather large pool in which to hunt for a mate.

And this pool is getting disproportionately larger. The 65+ demographic is expected to reach nearly 15 per cent of the global population by 2040. With longer life expectancy and an increase in divorce accompanied by a rise in senior online dating sites, more older adults are single and looking for love. Human instinct will lead people to seek out love, romance and companionship in their later years as a basic need.

To Love and Be Loved

Yet we remain hopeful and optimistic. For as writer George Sand stated over a century ago, “There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.” We never really give up the search for love throughout our lives. We hold out for it, sometimes longer that we should, and regret missed opportunities of what could have been. We question what the real essence is. Is it real? Will it last? Is this what it should feel like? Those who have love, revel in it. Those who don’t, yearn for it. It is the stuff of poems, fairytales, and melancholy melodies.

For those in a relationship, Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate the love you have. With all its passion, comforts, frailties and foibles. If you’re single, it can be a time to remember loves past and remember the feeling of being in love. It’s still out there. Keep an open mind and never stop looking for it. It could be right around the corner.

Published by Comfort Life Magazine
http://www.comfortlife.ca/blog/looking-for-love-on-valentine%E2%80%99s-day-5214/

New SageHealth Network Column on Toronto Community News

This is my first column for Age Well, my monthly blog for Toronto Community News.

Aging Positively

Why do we age? Although this eternal question has yet to be answered, we know for a fact that aging is an unavoidable part of life. As people age, some may develop feelings of anxiety depression and decreasing confidence. However, it’s imperative that we approach aging with a positive attitude and live life to the fullest for as long as possible!

The first step towards positive aging is to debunk the common misconception that aging must somehow equal decline. While older adults and seniors may not have the same energy levels compared to someone in their 20s, this shouldn’t prevent anyone from enjoying an active and fulfilling life.

Two of the most important aspects of positive aging are maintaining a positive attitude and leading a healthy lifestyle. A combination of regular exercise and a healthy diet has not only proven beneficial to one’s physical health but has many positive effects on mental health as well. The old saying: “when you look good, you feel good” certainly rings true for everyone, both young and old.

Maintaining a positive outlook on life can certainly be difficult at times with all the challenges and uncertainties of day-to-day living, especially as we get older. Nevertheless, resilience to life’s setbacks and having an optimistic attitude allows one to approach aging in a more positive way. It’s equally important for older adults to maintain friendships and outside hobbies that engage them physically as well as mentally. Staying active and busy equals happiness and fulfillment!

Staying active, healthy and maintaining a positive attitude plays a huge difference in the way we age. Aging is inevitable, but doing so in a positive way can lead to a longer, happier and more fulfilling life during our later years.

Alex Vainberg

Real Love Stories on the Big Screen

By Michele Cauch, Executive Director
SageHealth Network

In the past few years, we’ve begun to see more movies featuring mature adults as the main characters. Finally, Hollywood has taken note that a huge chunk of the global population is aging. It has become more realistic to see older adults and seniors as protagonists in feature films. Adventure films, chick flicks, drama and love stories….These speak to the growing market of 55+ and better reflect the world in which we live.

Romance movies featuring older adults are a wonderful step forward from the traditional Hollywood fare. Love stories depicting older adults help change dated stereotypes and negatives myths about this demographic seeking companionship, love, romance and intimacy. For the longest time, we’ve been stuck in a formulaic cycle of love stories focusing on and targeting youth. Senior-centric films thrown into the mix were meant to placate and amuse audiences like Cocoon, Grumpy Old Men and On Golden Pond.

The Rise of Senior-Centric Movies

Thankfully, with the increase in senior-centric love stories, we are seeing genuine relationships and romances that optimistically reflect real lives, are much more inclusive of people of all ages, and are more respectful of the needs of mature audiences. Movies such as The Notebook, Something’s Gotta Give, Love in the Time of Cholera, Space Cowboys, It’s Complicated, Nights in Rodanthe, and Bridges of Madison County vividly illustrate that romance doesn’t end at 55 years old. Seeing mature actors and actresses in these romantic roles is not only optimistic, but it also helps alter attitudes towards older adults, seniors and aging.

Such movies show us that romance is possible for anyone. Love can endure over decades or can be as fleeting as one week. Love can bloom at any age and become a deeper, more meaningful experience; or it can spark into an all-consuming flame and burn out quickly. And sadly, there are never any guarantees for how long it will last no matter how old we are.

Love in movies as in real life can be chaotic, complicated, profound, comforting or tumultuous. It can be a tragedy, comedy, or a blessing. It knows no age limits and no one is ever completely immune to it.

Cambodia condom demonstration

Older people are taught how to use a condom in Cambodia as part as an education and prevention program on AIDS

From Global Action on Aging: http://ca.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1h5qbfujluc0g

HIV Does Not Discriminate

In light of the fact that World AIDS Day was December 1, here is a post written by Sanna Klemetti, intern with Global Action on Aging December 2, 2011.
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Let's face it, sex never gets old. Turning 50 does not mean sex life automatically stops. For a long time stigma around age and sex has shaped how many people feel; discussions about aging and sex have been behind closed doors. This stigma contributes to how persons in the US and Europe see the increase of newly HIV infected older adults and seniors. Studies show that many people over age 50 do not use condoms. They seem to ignore or be unconcerned about HIV and AIDS. At the moment, the 50 years and older population is the fastest growing population in Europe and the US. In the year 2000, approximately 605 million people were 60 years or older. By 2050 that number is expected to be close to 2 billion. This is very large group of people. Why should this group be ignorant and excluded from the fight against HIV/AIDS.

What can we do to make older adults realize they are at risk? How do we get older adults to get tested for HIV? How can we change the general view on aging and sex?
To solve this problem we need to attack the problem from different angles. I believe popular culture is encouraging a slow change in the image of older adults and seniors. More TV shows and films portray mature women and men living a happy life including sex. Pop culture has started to show more dimensions of people over 50. This development will help change the view younger people have about aging and sex. It may also serve as a form of identification for older adults, helping them to be more open and comfortable about sex and their sexuality.

However, health care systems must take more responsibility when it comes to older adults and their sex lives. This is a good place to start dealing with the taboo around sex and age. Older adults and seniors may not feel comfortable talking about their sex lives with their doctors, a holdover from their earlier experiences when talking about sex was something one did not didn't do. Sexual activity was a very private matter rather than the sex education that is taught in schools today.
Today, doctors should ask their patients about their sexual life and if they are protecting themselves against infection. Since signs of HIV/AIDS can be the same aches of normal co-morbidities of aging, it is important that doctors talk to all their patients about risky sexual behaviors and encourage them to get tested for HIV.
Another important part in making older adults and seniors aware of the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases is to create HIV/AIDS campaigns that specifically target older people. Most campaigns target young people. By not including the older population in these campaigns, organizers are reinforcing existing stereotypes around aging and sex. These campaigns can serve several purposes, not only prevention and awareness, but also encouraging people to know their HIV status by getting tested.
These are not impossible goals. It is about time we stop thinking that HIV/AIDS is a “young person’s disease.”

HIV does not discriminate. No one who has sex is safe, no matter what gender you have or what year you were born.

Sanna Klemetti s.klemetti@globalaging.org

Original link: http://www.globalaging.blogspot.com/2011/12/hiv-does-not-discriminate.html