Category Archives for Health & Wellness

The Best of…Sexuality Continues Throughout Life

Published August 21, 2001, Pawtucket Times

          Many seniors consider sexuality a very private matter.

          But just after the wonder pill Viagra hit the pharmacy shelves across the nation in the late 1990s, sexuality in later life became literally the talk of the town.

          From articles in daily newspapers to late night talk show monologues, to conversations with family and friends — we talked openly about sex, may be just joking about the miraculous powers of the little blue pill with the intent to relieve our own personal discomfort of the taboo topic.  But Viagra was not a joke to tens of thousands of older persons who were able to become sexually active again.

        But even today, this writer still hears snickers from some readers who believe that seniors are asexual, and that six is of no interest to them in the twilight years of their lives.  It’s a myth, experts say, their observations supported by two nationally released research studies that indicate that sexual intimacy between seniors is alive and well in the United States and still important to those in their later years.

       Don’t believe in the misconceptions and stereotypes that older people are asexual beings and that a person’s sexual needs quickly evaporate after they reach age 50, says Tamara Kreinin, president of the New York-based Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States.

       “People are sexual beings throughout their lives,” Kreinin stated, adding that sexuality is a natural and healthy part of a person’s life.

        Seniors do enjoy sex in their later years and it can enhance a relationship and bring couples closer, Kreinin noted.  “You must not view sexuality as just intercourse,” she warns, because it has a wide-range of behaviors.

       For Instance, touch can be an important part of a person’s life.  Sexuality can also range from an embrace, a kiss, to intercourse, Kreinin added.

       Adds Kreinin, today’s culture is focused on youth and sexuality but for many older people their sexual pleasure has increased over the years because they have become more comfortable with themselves and their intimate relationships.

      According to Dr. David Kroessler, a geriatric psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor at Brown University in Providence, one’s sexuality is an integral part of human behavior.

       “Sexuality activity does not stop after you’re 50,” Dr. Kroessler says, noting that this can sometimes be news to a low of people. “Younger people tend to think that sex is just for the young and they just can’t imagine their grandparents in their early 80s having sex.  It’s not expected,” he noted, adding that many seniors in their later years, especially males, still have a strong sex drive.

     “If someone is asexual as a younger person, they don’t develop into a more sexually promiscuous person when they become older,” Dr. Kroessler said.  A person’s style of sexual behavior tends to remain constant throughout the life span, he says.  “If sex is not frequent when you’re younger, it will definitely be less frequent when you are older.”

      What does the national research tell us about sexuality and seniors?

      According to 1 1998 National Council on Aging (NCOA) research study, half of Americans age 60 and older report that they are sexuality active, while four in ten want sex more frequently.  The random NCOA survey of 1,300 older Americans was conducted by Roper Sarch Worldwide.

       The NCOA study also found that men and women in their 60s are more sexually active than Americans in the 70s (71 percent of men vs. 51 percent of women in their 60s, 57 percent of men vs. 30 percent of their women in their 70s).

        The survey results revealed that more older men than  women said they are sexually active: 61 percent of men and 37 percent of women. This gap results, in large part, from the longer life expectancy of women, the researchers say.  Older women are more likely to be widowed and no longer have a partner.  The higher ratio of women to men increases with age.

      Meanwhile, the researchers said that sexual activity continues to play an important role in relationships among older men and women.

       Among those respondents who said they are sexually active, 79 percent of older men and 66 percent of older women said that maintaining an active sex life is an important aspect of  their relationship with their partner.  When asked about the emotional satisfaction they get from their sex life, 74 percent of the sexually active men and 70 percent of the active women said they are as satisfied or even more satisfied than they were in their 40s.

        While more than half of all respondents said they engaged in sexual activity less than once a month, 54 percent of these men and 26 percent of the women said they would like to have sex more often.

        While sex is viewed as important, so is romance, researchers say.  Nine out of 10 respondents identified a high moral character, a pleasant personality, a good sense of humor, and intelligence as important qualities in a partner.

       In addition, a 1999  AARP Modern Maturity survey revealed that Americans age 45-plus have not lost that “loving feeling.”

       The mail survey was sent to 1,384 adults aged 45 and older in March of 1999 by National Family Opinion Research (NFO), Inc.  This was the first time that the national publication had devoted virtually an entire issue to sex and relationships.  The AARP study also dispels the myth that seniors are not interested in sexual intimacy.

        In terms of frequency, among those with sexual partners, the researchers found that more than 62 percent of men ages 45-59 and 64 percent of women ages 45-54 reported that they engage in sexual intercourse once a week or more, as do more than a quarter of those 75 and older (26 percent for men and 24 percent of women).

       More than seven-in-10 of those with partners (72 percent for men and 75 percent for women) stated that they engaged in intercourse at least once a month.

       Additionally, the AARP study found that older persons are finding their partners more physically attractive over time.  Going against the popular “youth-oriented” culture, the number of people who view their partners as romantic and-or physically attractive does not decline with age.  It may actually increase, the study said. Sixty percent of men aged 45-59 gave their partners the highest possible ratings for physical attractiveness.

       With the graying of America’s population, it is now time to bring senior sexuality out of the closet.  We must accept the fact that sexuality continues throughout the human life-span, and encompasses more than just intimate sexual intercourse.  It also includes cuddling, a tender kiss, a light touch on the shoulder, or holding hands.

      A well-known song, “As Time Goes By,” reminds us sexuality is to be experienced by both young and old. “You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh, the fundamental things apply, as time goes by.”

      For a bibliography list on sexuality and aging go to www.siecus.org.

      Herb Weiss is a Pawtucket-based freelance writer covering aging, health care and medical issues.   This article was published in the August 21, 2001 issue of the Pawtucket Times.

Senior must beware of heat, humidity

Published in Pawtucket Times on August 13, 2001

Temperatures reaching the mid-90s, combined with high humidity represent a serious health hazard for seniors.  But many seniors are heeding the advice of experts, gleaned from radio and newspaper articles, about how to cope with the scorching summer heat.

As to the heat wave, “we can’t control it but we certainly can deal with it,” says Pawtucket resident Paul Audette, who notes he has learned how to cope by listening to health experts.

The 71-year old senior staff manager at Pawtucket-based Providence Metalizing has consciously slowed down his activities, is drinking plenty of liquids and is staying out of the hot sun.

During the heat wave, Audette relaxed in the afternoon and goes out later in the evening when it becomes cooler.

Rep. Mabel Anderson, (District 77) also heeds the advice of health experts on radio programs and is coping well with the intense summer heat.

“I stay quiet, avoid going outside to run errands,” says the Pawtucket resident, noting that she drinks plenty of water to keep from becoming dehydrated. 

Anderson’s son, Jon, has also installed an air conditioner in her bedroom.  With three overhead fans in other rooms, Anderson keeps cool and comfortable.

Seniors, small children and the mentally ill are the most susceptible to health problems from the searing summer heat wavers, according to Dr. Patricia Nolan, director of Rhode Island’s Department of Health.

According the Nolan, the early systems of heat-related illnesses include muscle cramps in arms, hands, abdomen and legs.  Muscle cramps are a result of dehydration and salt loss, this being one of the primary problems associated with heat stress.

Additionally, Nolan says that fainting in the heat is another early symptom.

A person who has fainted due to heat should be taken to a cool place and refreshed using a wet cool cloth.  Nolan recommends, “You want to sponge people down and fan them to reduce their body heat,” she says.

Heat exhaustion or heat stroke is a more serious problem related to dehydration caused from high temperatures, Nolan stated.  Feelings of complete exhaustion, confusion, nausea or vomiting are real danger signs, she said.  Treatment involves bringing down the victim’s body temperature by adding fluids through intravenous methods.

To successfully beat the heat, Nola recommends that seniors cut back on outside physical activity and drink plenty of water.

While water is the best fluid to drink on a hot day fruit juice can be considered a viable substitute.  “Cooling off with a cold beer is not the best plan, “Nolan says, because alcohol, coffee tea and soda, loaded with caffeine, can dehydrate you.

Nolan warns that with temperatures in the mid-90s, staying indoors in an uncooled house or apartment is not the best thing for seniors to do.

“Go to an air-conditioned shopping mall, see a movie, visit a restaurant, or get yourself into an air-conditioned space.” She recommends. “If you can do this for an hour on a really hot day you can protect yourself from serious heat-related problems”.

Sometimes seniors get into trouble during days with high temperatures because they just don’t realize the danger, Nolan notes.

During these days it becomes important to monitor your elderly parent or older friends, she says, “Call on them every day to make sure they are coping with the heat.  Take them out to a cool place, like shopping mall, a library or a restaurant to let them cool off.”

Study Seeks Seniors Wanting Healthier Lifestyle

Published in Pawtucket Times on June 4, 2001

A University of Rhode Island research study that is currently under way is seeking seniors looking for a healthier lifestyle. The unique East Providence-based health promotion program plans to expand into nearby Pawtucket, Seekonk, Barrington, and the East Side of Providence and seeks 300 additional senior volunteers to participate.

At the SENIOR Project, URI researchers are investigating whether physical activity and nutrition are being elixirs to better health.

According to Director Phillip Clark, Sc.D., at URI’s Program in Gerontology, the National Institute on Aging-funded study takes a look at the effectiveness of a health promotion program geared at reaching people are at different stages of readiness to change their health-related behavior. “One size fit all” describes most health promotion programs, Clark tells The Times, but the SENIOR’s Project’s 12-month health promotion approach is “highly individualized.”

Currently, more than 1,000 enrollees age 65 and over have randomly been assigned to four health promotion interventions. All enrollees received material with large-print type for ease in reading.

The first intervention group receives a 20-page manual that explains the process of changing behaviors and the importance of physical exercise.  The second group is provided with a similar manual that also explains the change process but focuses on the nutritional benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.  A third group receives both sets of informational health promotion materials while the fourth group receives a manual on fall prevention.

Based on the results of quarterly questionnaire, an individualized report is generated and provided to each enrollee about their specific attitudes and behaviors, providing them with suggestions as to what they can do to make positive health and nutritional changes.

There are 16,000 possible variations of the computer-generated reports based on how the individualized questionnaires are filled out notes, Geoffrey Greene, Ph.D. RD, LDN, a URI professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences who also staffs the URI research team.

Greene adds that quarterly telephone counseling is offered too, by trained counselors. Using individualized reports, the counselor effectively coaches each older enrollee. “The counselors might focus on either the person’s attitudes or behaviors, depending on the person’s readiness to change,” he stated.

In between the quarterly reports. Greene notes that each enrollee will receive eight newsletters. Depending on the intervention group, the senior will be mailed a newsletter focusing on either nutrition, physical exercise, or both. Those seniors receiving the manuals about fall prevention will receive no newsletter. The URI nutritionist states that one of 40 variations of newsletters could be mailed to enrollees, linked to their level of readiness to change.


What specific nutritional lessons do people learn? Seniors receiving nutritional information on fruit and vegetables learn the importance of eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, Greene says. “It can help to reduce your high blood pressure, prevent certain types of cancers, reduce the risks of heart disease. Those who eat even more servings seem to have lower risks of diabetes, too,” Greene adds.

Greene states that seniors receiving nutritional intervention who already eat a lot of fruits and vegetables are told by the trained counselors to increase their variety. “A person is steered toward specific types of vegetables and fruits that are richer in nutrients and protective against certain types of diseases,” he adds.

As to physical fitness, Clark says that exercise is properly the most important health behavior for older adults. “It benefits body, mind and spirit,” he adds, noting that people of any age can benefit from a regular exercise program. Before beginning any exercise program, one needs to check with a physician, warns Clark.

Clark believes that “It’s never too late to begin to increase your physical activity.”

Estelle Tetreault, 78, a former public health nurse who had cardiac surgery last March, is a believer in the SENIOR Project and is pleased with her positive lifestyle changes. “The program really gets us off our butts,” she quipped, noting that her interest in health promotion influenced her to enroll.

For a while, Tetreault admits, she was a couch potato. “Exercise and nutrition have become a regular and more important part of my life,” the former Pawtucket and now East Providence resident says. “The upshot is I joined the SENIOR Project to support them but the project has become a source of support for me.

Tetreault’s longtime friend, Fran Robertson, also an East Providence resident and participant in the research study sees the tangible benefits, too. “Everyday Fran reminds herself to eat five fruits and vegetables,” Tetreault says, noting that her friend now regularly reminds herself to exercise daily.

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