Sex Ed Course For Atlanta Seniors Soars In Popularity
Let’s get this straight. Just because you’re over 60, it doesn’t mean your sex life is over, especially now that people are living longer than ever.
The Atlanta Regional Commission has certainly learned this. The ARC offers a slew of one-hour health classes for senior citizens on a variety of topics.
The most requested by far is one that started last year called “Healthy Sexuality as We Age.”
“A lot of people think that as we get older, somehow our interest in intimacy and sexuality wanes,” says Mary Newton, volunteer services coordinator with the organization.
But, she continues, “people forget sometimes that the baby boomers of today are the ones that started the sexual revolution, and nobody ever loses their desire for intimacy.”
The rate of sexually transmitted infection has doubled in the past decade among people ages 50 to 90.
That’s why Wayne Stokes, who is one of a dozen volunteers teaching the class, says it’s important to make sure seniors are informed.
“Some of them have the notion that those things were taboo to talk about. So we’re just trying to educate them on some of the things that are going on in our communities today, more so than maybe when some of them were coming along.”
Among those taboo topics is condom use and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and AIDS. The class also emphasizes the importance of speaking openly with both your sexual partner and your health care provider about sexual health.
The ARC’s Newton says that in the future, it would like to partner with a community organization that could provide onsite STI testing at each class.
Top Stories
