STDs in retirement communities are supposed to be on the rise.
They are if one believes the studies, which were done by, who else, the CDC.
From a 2011 article:
In the five years from 2005 to 2009, the number of reported cases of syphilis and chlamydia among those 55 and older increased 43 percent, according to an Orlando Sentinel analysis of data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the Sunbelt where retirees have formed large communities, the rise was even more dramatic.
For instance, in Arizona’s Maricopa and Pima counties — home to large retirement communities just outside Phoenix — the percent of reported cases of syphilis and chlamydia increased twice as fast as the national average from 2005 to 2009. Reported cases were up 87 percent among those 55 and older in those counties.
In Central Florida, where The Villages and other retirement communities sprawl across several counties, reported cases of syphilis and chlamydia increased 71 percent among those 55 and older in that same period. And South Florida saw a 60 percent rise in those two sexually transmitted infections among the same age group, according to the Florida Department of Health.
In Riverside County, Calif., home to retirement mecca Palm Springs, reported cases were up 50 percent over the five-year span, according to data from that county’s health department.
The reported cases of syphilis and chlamydia among older adults outpaced the nation’s average, according to the analysis. Among all age groups nationwide, reported cases of syphilis increased 60 percent between 2005 and 2009, while in the 55 to 64 age group it increased 70 percent. Meanwhile, the incidences of chlamydia rose 27 percent among all ages, and double that among those age 55 to 64.
The factors driving the rise of STDs in the older set include Americans living longer, healthier lives and a new class of medications, which include Viagra, making more sex possible. Many older adults didn’t get the safe-sex messages that younger generations received, say experts, so their condom use is lower. In addition, more seniors are living in group retirement communities where there’s more socializing.
“These seniors may lose a spouse, then get lonely,” said Dr. Jason Salagubang, a geriatrician on staff at Florida Hospital Apopka. “They’re living in retirement communities with others in the same boat, and sparks fly.”
Or as another article from stated (link-http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Sex-Crazed-Seniors-See-Rise-in-STDs-121993289.html):
A new study has found that the “free love” generation of the 1960s is still living up to its name.
According to an analysis of Centers for Disease for Control and Prevention data, South Florida saw a 60 percent rise in chlamydia and syphilis among those age 55 and older between the years 2005 and 2009, citing the article linked above.
But as many comments here say, and I agree with, the CDC is a government agency and one patient may have multiple STDs and the CDC counts each infection as an individual infections, instead of one patient having multiple infections.
Also in the Orlando Sentinel article:
As a result of the national trend among seniors, Medicare is considering providing coverage for STD screenings for seniors. In March, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid office announced that it was looking into adding STD exams to the national health-insurance program, which already pays for HIV screenings. Medicare also is weighing the benefits of paying for behavioral counseling for sexually active seniors.
So one wonders if the CDC back in 2011 and now have a motive, i.e. government can take care of your STDs./s
I remember when the above made the local news and one female senior citizen interviewee, who contratced AIDS and Hepatitis from a “gentleman” in her retirement community, made the comment that she thought STDs and AIDs were for young people, gays and prostitutes, ignoring the common theme among them, i.e. promiscuity.