Seniors and Sexuality: Enjoying Intimacy and a Healthy Lifestyle Part 1

Most people cannot imagine seniors as being sexual into retirement age and beyond. For many young people, it’s impossible to associate physical intimacy with older adults. Senior sexuality has been branded either an uncomfortable or unbelievable concept. There is the belief that seniors are too old to engage in sexual intimacy or they are undesirable to potential mates. It may be news to many, but it’s time we all realized and rejoiced in the fact the seniors are indeed sexually active well into the Third Age.

The Good and Bad News

Yes, it’s true! Seniors are sexually active and enjoying all forms of intimacy. The latest study by the American Association of Retired Persons estimated that 48% of those surveyed aged 45 and over who are single and dating say they have intercourse at least once a week, and 60% of dating singles are satisfied with their sex lives. Among those surveyed, 40% report having intercourse at least once a month; and  44% report sexual touching and caressing at least once a week (64% if they have a partner). Two-thirds of those surveyed say they have either a current or recent sexual partner.  22% say they engage in self-stimulation at least once a week.  (Sex, Romance and Relationships: AARP Survey of Midlife and Older Adults and 2010).

As encouraging as this revelation is, it also presents cause for concern--individuals 50 and over are at greater risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as genital herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, and HIV/AIDS. There are a variety of reasons why older adults are at risk for contracting STIs: lack of education and awareness campaigns targeting older adults, reliance on outdated information, and common misconceptions about seniors’ sexuality on the part of health care providers.

Many seniors have assumptions and beliefs about sexuality that are difficult to change. There is a danger for older adults not to use condoms as a form of safe sex. A common misconception for not using condoms is that they are associated with  preventing pregnancy—something that is not a concern when in your 70s or 80s. Many seniors may believe that HIV/AIDS is a disease that affects young people or gay men and could not possibly affect them at their age.

Some older adults are perhaps newly single, widowed or divorced after long term monogamous relationships years of marriage and do not know of the sexual health dangers that exist nowadays. These individuals are seeking new partners and are in a vulnerable situation due to lack of information and awareness of sexually transmitted infections and the facts about HIV/AIDS.

The Viagra craze has contributed a lot to the increase in STIs in older adults also. More seniors are having more sex; however drug companies and government agencies have not provided sufficient education on sexual health risks nor safer sexual practices. 

Continued......

Indugle in a little brain candy with trivia

I love trivia. I have accumulated much useless information over my lifetime, it has to be good for something. That plethora of pointless facts does more than get me a good score at my local pub, it keeps the synapses in my brain sharp and firing. Just as jogging, weight-lifting or Zumba class can improve your physical condition, cognitive games can strengthen your brain and keep it functioning and healthy. 

Chess, word and number puzzles, crosswords, jigsaws and memory recall games - all mentally challenging games - are beneficial in stimulating the brain and encouraging new neural connections. 

Trivia has all these benefits plus the social aspect when played in a group setting. 

With respect to cognitive development, trivia exercises the pathways to long-term memory and mental stimulation, which keeps the brain healthy, functioning and active. Exercising memory recall, aural and verbal skills, and using visual cues, not only strengthen mental and cognitive abilities, but they can also help develop new cells. Aging brains have the ability to grow, adapt and develop new cells to compensate for lost ones. 

Trivia also has the added mental and intellectual stimulation resulting from socialization. Meeting new people, forming new attachments and deepening companionships are another benefit from playing trivia in a group setting.   

Socialization through leisure activities and games keeps people engaged and contributes to a higher quality of life and general well-being. 

So if you’re interested in boosting your brain power, meeting new friends and dazzling others with your expert knowledge of useless facts, try playing trivia. 

There are organized trivia games and leagues throughout the city and across Ontario: 

PubStumpers: PubStumpers is a Windsor-based business that creates trivia packages for pubs and restaurants. It is played in more than 200 venues across Canada and the U.S. It’s a weekly, live-hosted socially engaging game that runs for 12 weeks. Players can join any time they like and it’s free to play. 

Depending on where you go, teams can be competitive. Put your thinking cap on and dig in your heels if you’re confident you know the correct answer. There is also a version for the 55-plus demographic called Grey Matters! and a new edition to the games roster is the bingo-based, Zengo.

You can checkout the full roster of games www.thecrowdmakers.com

 

Meetup.com: One of my favourite social networking sites is Meetup.com. This site brings together like-minded people based on your interests and area code. It’s a global network of friendships waiting to happen. You can find trivia and games meet-ups by just typing in your postal code at www.meetup.com

 

Toronto Trivia League: Played at several pubs in the east end, this league started in 1992. You can create your own team or join an existing one. There is a per person charge to play. The new season began Sept. 9. If you want to create your own team or join an existing one, check their website at www.trivialeague.com

 

Retirement residences/community centres: Independent seniors’ centres and retirement residences run their own trivia nights. Some of these residences open up their activities to the community. Ask one in your neighbourhood if you can attend and check out their facilities and services.

--- 

Original link:  http://www.insidetoronto.com/blogs/post/4120341-health-age-well-suggest-indulging-in-a-little-brain-candy-with-trivia/

The slow death of ageism

The problem with “isms” is they never die. I’m referring to the negative kind of isms: sexism, racism and, more recently, ageism. The term ageism has been in use since 1969 when gerontologist Robert Neil Butler used it to describe discrimination against seniors. And here we are, more than 40 years later, still confronted with it. 

But there’s a new weapon in the arsenal to fight against ageism. Revera Inc., a seniors’ housing corporation, just released a new report on ageism with a companion microsite called www.AgeIsMore.com.

The new site is aimed at not only challenging negative stereotypes of aging, but also celebrating the spirit of aging and the contributions of older people. Revera Inc. has done extensive research on the aging process and the well-being of seniors and have published findings on quality of life concerns including happiness, love and romance and computer technology usage. Now the retirement industry giant turns its attention toward ageism and how to end it. 

With their new study, Revera seeks to alter our perception and misconceptions about aging and seniors. The study proposes adopting a positive and more consistent attitude toward older adults and being more open-minded about the different aspects of aging – two simple approaches that will help us become more optimistic about the inevitable process and more accepting of those experiencing it.

The site invites people to challenge their personal beliefs and assumptions about aging and older adults by submitting their stories and experiences and reading stories of seniors. 

Some of Revera’s findings include: 

• By 2051, one in four people in Canada will be over the age of 65

• one in three Canadians admit they’ve treated someone differently because of their age

• 63 per cent of seniors ages 66 plus say they’ve been treated unfairly or differently because of their age

• 71 per cent agree that Canadian society values younger generations more than older ones

(Revera Report on Ageism) 

Visit www.AgeIsMore.com and share your story about your own experiences, then share the link with others - it’s one more step toward ending ageism. 

Our next step in the ongoing fight against ageism? A 65-plus superhero who is a true champion of our mature population - someone who elevates their dignity, self-worth and contributions and who fights the evil ageism wherever it lurks. 

But that’s a topic for another blog. 

Original link:  http://www.insidetoronto.com/blogs/post/4043129-health-age-well-talks-about-the-slow-death-of-ageism/

Film Review-Sad and uplifting Amour

Amour is a beautiful love story that focuses on aging, patience and responsibility. 

The plot centers on a husband and wife, George and Anne Laurent (played by Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva), both in their mid-80s, retired piano teachers who have been married for decades. 

They enjoy a simple, comfortable life and are content to grow old together. But when Anne suffers a stroke, the couple faces one challenge after another. Yet through their entire ordeal, their bond remains unbroken.  

Not only is Amour a film about a long-lasting love affair over decades, it also illustrates the stresses and difficulties of caregiving. 

After Anne’s first stroke, George assumes responsibility for her care-giving needs. Anne is paralyzed on one side and needs assistance with her activities of daily life – bathing, toileting, dressing, ambulation. The two soldier on with Anne coming to terms with her growing dependence on her husband, and George shouldering the responsibility of meeting his wife’s growing needs.

The two deal with their own depression, resentment and anxiety. Both try to hold themselves together so the other doesn’t witness an emotional breakdown from increasing stress. Anne loses her independence and her ability to make music, while George becomes overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for his wife. 

When Anne suffers a second stroke, she completely loses her ability to communicate. She begins to suffer from aphasia and complete loss of mobility. George still is her primary caretaker and her advocate, firing an in-home nurse who is abusive and dealing with relatives who visit occasionally demanding better care without a thorough understanding of her condition.   

As Anne declines rapidly, George is always nearby. Feeding her, stroking her hand to calm her restlessness, telling her stories, singing to her and patiently teaching her to sound out words.

The film mirrors what all caregivers experience. With an aging population, there has been an increase in the numbers of individuals performing unpaid caregiving. Spouses, children and friends are stepping into the role once reserved by health-care professionals. 

The results of family caregiving can be very rewarding as individuals are able to act with the well-being of their loved one in mind and be strong advocates for them. However, the emotional, physical and financial costs associated with caregiving for individuals with chronic and complex health issues can be overwhelming.  

Informal caregivers can suffer emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, guilt and resentment, and burn out from overwhelming responsibility.  

Stress, exhaustion and repetitive tasks such as bending, lifting and  carrying can result in long-term physical ailments. And financial costs resulting from lost work time and out-of-pocket expenses can take a huge toll on people trying to do the right thing. 

According to the Canadian Caregiver Association, there are approximately four to five million Canadians who provide care for a family member with long-term health problems. As unpaid, informal caregiving, this is equivalent to $5 billion of unpaid labour annually.

 

No matter the good intentions of family and friends in taking responsibility of care, there will be conflicting emotions of resentment and affection - feelings of helplessness, feelings of unworthiness and feelings of loneliness. Like many others before him, this is the string of emotions that the film’s protagonist, George, is plagued by. 

Amour is beautifully sad and tragic, but romantic and full of hope. It shows that love is powerful and binds us to one another. It shows that caring for the needs of another, while stressful and demanding, is also one of the greatest gifts we can give to another. 

Original link:  http://www.insidetoronto.com/blogs/post/3845871-health-age-well-talks-about-the-sad-and-tragic-but-uplifting-movie-amour/

Volunteering for social change with the Canadian Association of Retired Persons

I’m a huge fan of volunteering. I love volunteering. If I didn’t have to work full time, I’d be spending my days and weekends volunteering. There are so many causes I believe in and want to support, I wish I had two more lifetimes in my pocket. 

All non-profits rely on this selfless group of individuals who donate their time, willingly, with the greatest of intentions. And now, this section will benefit from a major windfall. 

According to Volunteer Canada, there are more than five million seniors age 65 and close to 10 million baby boomers making up 43 per cent of the population. Although the majority of 45-plus tend to volunteer within sports and recreation, social services, education and religious non-profits, there is an area that is beginning to show growth. 

The truth is, not many will think of political advocacy right off the bat when it comes to volunteering and giving back.   Boomers and seniors are increasingly showing more interest in having a strong voice in political and social issues. It is expected that more individuals in this demographic will become more engaged in citizen advocacy and civic participation. 

With this major demographic shift in our worldwide population, organizations such as the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) are so important.

I’m familiar with CARP’s mission, which is committed to a new vision of aging for Canada, promoting social change that will bring financial security, equitable access to health care and freedom from discrimination, among other statements. 

The mission and vision of CARP reflects the mission I created for my agency, SageHealth Network, which focuses on health promotion, positive aging and social connections.  CARP works with 55-plus volunteer-run chapters across Canada that build stronger, more informed, more cohesive communities. The chapters also encourage engagement and advocacy in support of CARP’s areas of focus: finances, health and rights. By volunteering, attending meetings and events, it generates a sense of belonging and increases social participation and connections. And by volunteering with CARP, you’re part of a larger movement that is creating positive change across Canada.

CARP does good work in the community and across Canada. Advocating for the rights of older adults and seniors is advocating for the rights of all Canadians. 

For more information on CARP, contact www.carp.ca or call 416-363-8748. 

Original link:  http://www.insidetoronto.com/blogs/post/3241532-health-volunteering-for-social-change-with-the-canadian-association-of-retired-persons/

Retirement is the perfect time to further your education

By Michele Cauch

So you’ve enjoyed retirement and are now looking to further your education, just for fun. You’ve looked at some university and college options, but it’s too much of a commitment or just too serious.

Perhaps you had something less mentally taxing and less of a time eater in mind. Fear not, fair knowledge seekers, there are lots of special-interest courses out that don’t require jostling shoulder-to-shoulder against freshmen while standing in line for a Timmy’s before your 8:30 a.m. psych class.

Behold, the easiest place to start might be the best well-kept secret – The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) offers continuing education courses after school lets out. 

With 33 sites across the city, you’re bound to find something that appeals to every taste – sewing, pottery, languages, real estate, cake decorating, ballroom dancing, start your own business and drawing for people who can’t draw (yes, that’s the actual name of the course).  Regular courses run for about two months and there are discounts for those 65 plus. 

York District School Board also offers continuing education classes and seniors get a 15 per cent discount. However, you’ll have to grapple with a non-user friendly website to see the course listing. 

Hidden educational gems

 

Two months too long still? Consider reconnecting with one of the oldest treasures in our city, The Toronto Public Library (TPL).  The TPL offers an impressive lecture series that covers an extensive list of subjects from culture, arts and entertainment, health and wellness, history and genealogy and hobbies, crafts and games. You can also join a modern salon and engage in conversation and debate with writers, artists and innovators that come together for conversation and debate. 

Ryerson’s Chang School of Continuing Education offers Ryerson LIFE Institute. LIFE provides opportunities for education, leadership, personal growth and social activities for people 50 plus. The institute offers courses and study groups on a range of topics such as current affairs, art, history, culture, music and film for the 50 plus group. There are also learning travel programs available also. Membership cost is $80 a year and you need to be a member to register for courses.

Fitness junkies can take their enthusiasm to whole new level. 

Transform yourself from gym rat to fitness instructor at the YMCA. The YMCA Fitness Leadership program offers a nationally accredited course to certify instructors as group fitness leader, individual conditioning leader and aquatics fitness leader. The program consists of five elements that lead to certification: basic theory, applied theory, apprenticeship , on-the-floor training and evaluation and certification. 

Be the talk of the town

 

Toastmasters International is a leader in communication and leadership development. Their members improve their skills by attending one of the 13,500 clubs in 116 countries.  Members engage in public speaking exercises and leadership development in a supportive environment. People are encouraged to drop in to a meeting and see if it’s your style before committing to join. 

Whatever your interests are, there’s a course or program that awaits you. You can invest as little as two hours to enjoy a one-off workshop on travel photography in the Arctic. Or you can commit to a program that will give you skills to share your interests with others and help them attain their educational goals.  

It might not be easy to find it, but if you have perseverance and do your sleuthing, you’ll find what you’re looking for. 

Visit http://www.insidetoronto.com/blogs/post/2502045-health-you-re-never-too-old-to-hit-the-books-and-go-back-to-school-says-age-well to read the first part of this series about continuing your education. 

------------------------------

Original link from InsideToronto.com:  http://www.insidetoronto.com/blogs/post/2519069-health-retirement-is-the-perfect-time-to-further-your-education-says-age-well/

Hit the books and go back to school

By Michele Cauch

If you’re retired or close to this life milestone, now is the perfect time to think about going back to school.
Today, there are so many options for continuing education for older adults and seniors. There’s never been a better time to fill your head with learning.

From university degrees to one-off special-interest courses, the world of education is your oyster. There are so many options nowadays for older adults and seniors to pursue educational opportunities, such as affordability, location and program type. Really, the only question now is not why would you go back to school but rather, why wouldn’t you?

Moving into the Ivory Tower
If you’ve ever dreamed of getting a degree or diploma, some colleges and universities now offer reduced rate tuition for people 65 plus. For those who pursue this option of post-secondary education, you’ll get the full-on, in-class experience – rubbing shoulders with freshman, burning the midnight oil writing papers and cramming before exam time. If that sounds like what you’re looking for, check out these post-secondary institutions.

For individuals who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents age 60 or older at time of registration, York academic fees at the domestic rate will be waived. 

Ryerson Chang School of Continuing Education waves tuition fees for students who are 60 years of age or over at the start of the term for undergraduate credit courses/programs. You still have to pay departmental ancillary fees though.
McMaster University in Hamilton has a similar program for undergraduates more than 65. In addition, McMaster reduces fees by 50 per cent for seniors registered in continuing education courses.

Hopefully you’ll find what you’re searching for at York or Ryerson because you’ll have to pay big bucks to attend University of Toronto. The U of T only waves nominal ancillary fees for seniors. Across Canada, there are other universities that offer free or reduced rate tuition for 65 plus such as:

• University of Guelph
• University of Calgary
• University of Western Ontario
• University of British Columbia
• University of Lethbridge
• Mount Allison University

Study through cyber space
If the fast-paced, caffeine-drenched life of a full-time student is not for you, you might be interested in online educational options. The advent of the Internet has changed the way we communicate with each other, how we do business and how we socialize.

It also revolutionized the way we learn. Online courses make studying convenient and flexible right from the privacy of your very own Internet connection. The dress code is much more relaxed when you study at home, too - jeans, ballgown, pajamas are optional.

One of my favourite online sites is Coursera.org
Coursera is leading the way of MOOCs (massive online open courses). Coursera partners with leading educational institutions across the globe to offer courses that were once the privilege of the few. Partner universities include Stanford, Duke, Berklee College of Music, University of Edinburgh, University of Geneva and Johns Hopkins to name only a few.

Coursera partners with 62 universities to offers 92 courses in five languages across four continents. There are 2.7 million students currently studying through coursera.org

And best of all, it’s free!

From introduction to mechanical engineering to songwriting, human physiology to improv, Coursera brings you learning options you never thought you’d be able to take advantage of.

While you won’t earn your degree through Coursera, you will get a certificate of completion when you finish the course. All you need is an Internet connection. Coursera also connects students to meetup groups based on course. So if you’re one 400 people who signed up for Introduction to Mathematical Thinking and live in Toronto, Coursera gives you the option of connecting to Mathematical Thinking Toronto Meetup.com to get together with other individuals in the same course.

Coursera has pioneered online learning, making education possible for millions of people.

Next, special-interest courses


Original link:  http://www.insidetoronto.com/blogs/post/2502045-health-you-re-never-too-old-to-hit-the-books-and-go-back-to-school-says-age-well/