You At Your Best

6 | YOU AT YOUR BEST | nwAdg.cOm/YOUATYOURBEST dEcEmBER - SEniOR cElEBRATiOnS | SATURdAY, nOvEmBER 24, 2018 by Kimberly marquez NWa Democrat-Gazette Despite wanting to avoid the topic, the facts are clear, the senior community is far more sexually active than imagined and they are at great risk. After much research and many conversations on STDs and seniors, one thing that stood out the most was the lack of knowledge and how uncomfortable people felt while discussing the topic. Growing numbers of cases involving STDs in nursing homes and assisted living communities have risen for a variety of reasons, including the use of erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra and Cialis, and unproductive sexual activity with one or multiple partners. As such, it is important that we educate ourselves and those who are not aware of the risks in engaging in sexual activity of any kind, especially the youth and older adult and senior population. The STDs epidemic is not something to ignore—it's a growing and active problem that needs to be confronted. Proper support and education from family, doctors, and senior homes' staff could help confront this epidemic. Derrick Y McDaniel's article "Mr. Eldercare 101" shows that between 2007 and 2011, Chlamydia infections among Americans 65 and over increased by 32 percent, and syphilis by 52 percent. What are some possible causes? • As people age their immune systems tend to weaken making them more susceptible to contacting ANY disease—including STDs. • Many doctors don't think to test seniors for STDs as a standard examination protocol. • Older people are now using on-line dating and thus are relatively unfamiliar with their partners and their sexual histories Treatment STDs can be cured with antibiotics, but untreated cases have severe health consequences. According to the CDC, men, women, and infants are at risk for severe, lifelong health outcomes like chronic pain, severe reproductive health complications, and HIV. STDs are a real concern for older adults and seniors Sources: Psychology Today and AARP 5,650 For primary and secondary syphilis, 5,650 cases were reported in the age group. That's up from 4,848 in 2015 and 3,176 in 2012. 33,879 Gonorrhea had 33,879 reported cases last year in the same age group, up from 26,005 on 2015 and 16,257 in 2012. 43,409 MeDicare now offerS STD Screening for SeniorS chlamYdia According to the CDC (Center for Disease & Prevention) there were 43,409 reported cases of chlamydia among people 45 and older in 2016, up from 38,185 reported cases in 2015 and 26,405 in 2012. GonorrhEa primarY & sEcondarY sYphilis STD: StatiSticS • With age, the immune system weakens, which means we are more prone to infections. • Aging related health issues could complicate heart disease to liver damage to diabetes and others. • STDs can be asymptomatic, meaning they often go untreated, which means o Increasing odds of passing the STD to another person. o Other infections can root and/or worsen. Only 5% of those eligible for this non-coST service have chosen to utilize it.

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