The love of the elderly seems to be a taboo subject in our societies and yet it is a reality for many couples. Some are still in love with their spouse, others fall in love at a very advanced age.

A fulfilling sexuality after 60 years?

According to a 2015 study by the dating site Elite Rencontre, people over the age of 60 still believe that love is possible. Among those surveyed, 96% admitted that they wanted to fall in love and 70% said love at first sight was always possible, well after 60 years. We don’t mind that two people of a certain age want to live together and feel genuine affection for each other, but that they can have desire seems almost confusing.

In her autobiography that she is about to publish, actress Macha Meril addresses this subject. She married Michel Legrand in 2014. They were then 74 and 82 respectively. ” If there is no sex without love, there is no love without sex », She explains in an extract obtained by Paris here. ” Before saying yes to Michel, I had to face this question. “And to add:” As we age, sexuality changes. She is different, surprising, but just as lively ».

It’s possible to rebuild your life after 70 years

In 2011, nearly 2 couples, aged 600 and over, got married. And since 2006, the number of married people aged 60 to 65 has increased by 18,5%, according to INSEE. Who could still believe that love at first sight does not exist among seniors? With the increase in life expectancy, a retiree can hope to live long enough to have great experiences. According to a Via Voice survey commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs in charge of the elderly in 2014, 57% of those aged 70 and over believe that they can still rebuild their lives.

When the Internet is a game-changer

It must be said that with social networks and the proliferation of dating sites, seniors are much less isolated than twenty years ago. They can more easily come into contact with old acquaintances or with completely unknown people. Some dating sites have even specialized in these loves between older people.. We think in particular of sites like netsenior.fr, or senior-rencontre.com.

Beyond the real search for a soul mate, these sites allow seniors to rediscover the joy of flirtation and seduction. Some admit to having crazy fun on these dating sites.

A more fulfilling sex life?

When we know that the divorce rate for over 60s increased by 42% between 2001 and 2009, we imagine that many retirees are looking for love. And they would be wrong to deny it. According to a study carried out by a team of British researchers and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 34% of seniors believe their sex life has improved since they turned 60.

Afterwards, we have to face the facts, after 60 years, both men and women encounter small problems that can affect their sex life (erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, etc.), but the relationship with the body is different , sexuality is freed. Women, in particular, are no longer worried about their means of contraception. No more risk of unwanted pregnancy, only the pleasure counts.

Would our seniors really be released? To use the Elite Rencontre survey, it is not because they fall in love that seniors want to get married: 66% of people questioned answer that they have no desire to get married. As for those who have already been married, they are 87% to refuse to pass in front of the mayor.

Claire Verdier

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