Love in the older years

The norms of society seem to dictate that once people reach a certain age they should abandon all thought of love and romance and many younger people have a spontaneous aversion to seeing older people even exchanging kisses. Apparently it is difficult for younger people to digest the idea that seniors are capable of having any kind of sexual or romantic yearnings.

For example 83-year-old Sheila Vogel-Coupe admitted on a UK chat show that she had taken up escort work because she was lonely.

MS Vogel-Coupe said: "I had two happy marriages and unfortunately both husbands died of illnesses and it upset me very much. I'm alone in my flat and thought I would like to have a bit of male company."

Now MS Vogel-Coupe's family has disowned her as they could not tolerate the idea of her having a secret sex life at her advanced age.

Similarly but on a milder note in India, divorced mother-of-two Savita Dutta was seen in a disco with some friends by her shocked 20-plus nephew. MS Dutta said: "Young people are shocked when they see people much older than them having fun, perhaps much more than they do."

Sociologist Ashim Gupta explained: "We are horrified with elderly sexuality. Our embarrassment stems from deep-seated prejudices. Also, we are repulsed at the mere thought of deviation from normal behaviour."

Older people of whatever age have needs and wishes - as author Khushwant Singh writes: "My heart is still young... I fantasise. When I fantasise, I'm very happy. Those are my most precious moments. Earlier, when I fantasised in my younger days, I used to go and act out my fantasies, put them to practice. Now, of course, I can't. But there's no censorship on thoughts."

But there may be no limit on when a man stops performing sexually. Hugh Hefner Playboy owner, now over 80, has just got engaged to a lady half his age, while 87-year-old legend Dev Anand declares he could "fall in love again" adding that "desires of a man live as long as he lives."

The truth is that sexuality endures long after people reach 60. A new Canadian study conducted at the University of Montreal shows that older couples appear to be more in love than their younger counterparts and indeed enjoy more satisfying sex lives after retirement despite any physical difficulties they may have.

Despite society's prejudices, older people are always capable of enjoying a rich and fulfilling love life at any age!

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