More than half of people aged 65 and over do not feel like they have enough sex, a survey has shown.
Many older people are more sexually active than we may think, Independent Age said, but of those asked less than a third said they definitely get enough.
Of those aged 80 and above, less than a fifth said they have enough sex, according to the older people’s charity as it released its findings on Valentine’s Day.
A little more than a quarter of people said that while they had not had sex on a first date since turning 65 they would consider it, and 9% admitted they take no precautions against sexually transmitted diseases when they start getting intimate with a new partner.
The charity has also published guidance for older people on relationship issues, including marrying again and sex in later life.
Lucy Harmer, director of services at Independent Age, said: “Age is no barrier to having a sex life, and a lot of older people are more sexually active than many people may think.
“Strong relationships are important in later life, and ideas about friendship, romance and intimacy may well change throughout life. Close relationships can offer emotional support, and can make a difference by staving off loneliness and giving you resilience and support to get through difficult patches in life. However, sex, dating and relationships can be complex, and that does not stop when we get older.
“The ending of old relationships, and starting new ones, can be emotional, but they can also present financial, legal or practical challenges. To help you through this, our Relationships in Later Life guidance can help you navigate some of the issues you may face.”
Censuswide surveyed 2,002 people aged 65 and over online earlier this month.