Seniors do it better

Research reveals seniors have more satisfying sex – and want it more - than singles in their 20s.

In an eye-opening insight into the sexual behaviours of the elderly, a study by EliteSingles Australia of 2500 online daters, has revealed that seniors’ early bedtimes have nothing to do with wanting more sleep.

The survey found that 93 per cent of over 70s believed sex to be ‘important’ in a relationship, with 37 per cent rating it as ‘very important’.

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Thirty-seven percent of seniors also said they ‘couldn’t stay in a sexless relationship’, and it’s no wonder why – 84% of over 70s said sex gets better with age.

Interestingly, the study also showed that seniors over 70 have a higher desire for sex than singles aged 18-30.

Indeed, celibacy was considered less acceptable for older singles than the younger ones; just seven per cent of seniors said they were ‘happy without sex in a relationship’, compared to 14 per cent of the 18-30 year olds.

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The over 70s were also more accepting of casual sex; 79 per cent said they don’t need to wait for a solid relationship commitment before having sex, a sentiment which was shared with just 69 per cent of younger singles.

A gender comparison revealed that 93% of women think the quality of sex improves with age and experience, compared with 76% of men.

Women are also more eager daters, as only 4 per cent said they lacked the energy or mobility to join the dating scene, compared with 23 per cent of men.

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“People tend to feel uncomfortable with the idea of senior sexuality because it has nothing to do with reproduction; senior sex is purely about love and sexual fulfillment, ” says EliteSingles Psychologist Salma Marine.

“But in a society often too associated with youth, we tend to forget that there is no age limit to desire and eroticism,” she said. “We must recognise that today’s seniors have lived through society's sexual liberalisation and enjoy the same sexual freedom as the rest of us.”