(WJZ) BALTIMORE Sex and seniors: two words you don't often hear together. It turns out, however, that seniors are having more sex than you think.
As Jessica Kartalija reports, the intimate act makes for healthier and happier senior couples.
At The Bottom Drawer in Federal Hill, forget the flannel. Customers of all ages are looking for lacy lingerie.
"They pretty much know what they want their women to be wearing when they come in here," said store owner Julia Elgert.
Elgert says some of her best customers are well into their golden years.
"I think it's really great. The older women are embracing their curves. They're not as afraid or self conscious as they used to be and so there's such beautiful lingerie out there for older women as well--so why not," she said.
In a survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists found the sex lives of seniors aged 57-85 are alive and well.
"All of the studies that have been coming out in the last 10 years point out that those who are sexually interested and active in their older age have a higher quality of life, remain healthier and live longer," said Dr. Marc Lipton, a clinical psychologist in Towson.
The study also finds seniors in good health have twice as much sex as those in poor health. One out of seven men use Viagra or another substance to improve sex. Women tend to be less sexually active than men, often because they are widowed or don't have a sexual partner.
So why the stigma surrounding seniors and sex? When it comes to our elders, there isn't much talk of what happens between the sheets.
"I think seniors are just quiet about it. A lot of them, that is. They just, you know, been together for a long time. We've been together 30 years. You just keep kinda mum, yeah," said Ken and Vicki Marshall.
"Well, I don't know too much about that. I was one of those children who didn't want to know what was going on. I believe the stork brought me about," said Ray Kabia.
Well go head seniors! Ain't nothing wrong with a lil bump and grind. Great role models I tell ya. It's good to see this article because it lets folks know that just because you're a senior citizen, doesn't mean your life is over. People prepare themselves for death as soon as they turn 40 sometimes. SMH.
