From “Wamama, sugar daddies to ancestors” how youths have turned relationships a source of income.

Going by old African traditionals it was a “Taboo” to even stay around older people but in the recent years it’s Normal to even marry an older person as even social media embraces.

New research shows that aging adults play critical roles in the lives of young people, especially the most vulnerable in society. Volunteering is one way to bring older adults and young people together. The key is to change social norms to encourage relationship building between generations.

When older adults contribute to the well-being of youth, it cultivates a sense of purpose and extends benefits both ways, according to a new Stanford report.

Such relationships are important for society. They can help ensure that children and teens receive the kind of attention and mentoring they often lack, especially among the most vulnerable populations, the Stanford scholars said. These relationships also offer older adults opportunities to learn about new technology and trends, and experience the excitement of seeing the world through a younger perspective.

A Stanford psychology professor who led the report and is the director of the Stanford Center for Longevity, said, “Contrary to widespread beliefs that older populations consume resources that would otherwise go to youth, there is growing reason to think that older people may be just the resource youth need.”

A recent research has found that as people age, their brains actually improve in many ways, including in complex problem-solving and emotional skills. It is a huge loss for society not to offer such counsel and experience to others, especially young people.

The aging population has distinctive qualities to meet the needs of youth. Older adults are exceptionally suited to meet these needs in part because they welcome meaningful, productive activity and engagement. They seek – and need – purpose in their lives.

As for older adults, the report pointed out, they benefit as well, experiencing emotional satisfaction in relationships with young people. One way to achieve such contact is through volunteer service, which is associated with better physical health and cognitive performance for aging people. From a societal view, these interactions are positive, too.

Focusing volunteer efforts on young people improve their (young people’s) chances of success in life. These mutual benefits are perhaps the most compelling reason for programs that connect young and old.

The physical health detriments associated with adolescent females’ having older romantic partners are well documented. However, little is known about the relationship between having an older partner and females’ subsequent mental health.

Most people cringe at the thought of their parents or grandparents being intimate, but the desire for love and sex never stops.

In fact, according to a 2018 study, many older adults want to date again after the loss of a spouse.

There’s just so little representation on television in terms of all sorts of diversity and stories around love and romance and sex.

These are desires that exist across a lifespan. You’re not like, ‘Well, turned a certain age and now you are done with it.

The media industry is making some progress as more shows are highlighting this reality. The Bachelor franchise, for example, launched a spin-off featuring seniors.

How adult children can support parents who are dating
If someone feels uncomfortable about their older parents dating again, they need to put themselves in their parents’ shoes.

Nobody likes to be managed on who they can and can’t date. Respect in this case has to work both ways.

You want to be open to meeting partners when they’re ready, you don’t get to demand.

A lot of people do not want to like their parent’s partner because of the idea of an “evil” stepmother or stepfather. But their parents’ partners are not coming in as a mother or father figure necessarily; it is a different type of relationship because you are an adult.

Being in that adult-child role is also complicated because some feel they want to protect their parents.

Children have to remember that parents have been “doing life” for a long time.

They’ve made mistakes and you’ve made mistakes but they’re always going to have more experience than you.

Dating has changed

If you are a senior who is testing the dating waters again, it will be different from when you were younger.

The traditional order starts with meeting each other, falling in love, getting married and then starting a family. When you are older though, you may not want to live together or have kids.

This isn’t a bad thing, though: The conversations could potentially be a little bit deeper because it’s not about, ‘What are your goals? I’m accessing whether we’re a good fit.’ It really is about getting to know someone and getting to know how you feel in their presence.

While some conversations could be deeper, other topics like sex may be awkward to talk about.
Senior sex expert Joan Price told Global News in a previous article that seeing a counsellor or sex therapist can help you and your new partner communicate about sex.
If you are comfortable addressing sexual issues with a partner, a couples’ counsellor can still help partners learn how to talk about the elephants in the room.

Honest conversations lead to better and more enjoyable sex, especially if you have been with one partner for the majority of your life, and you are learning how to share intimacy with someone new.

Another difference, is that men are typically more inclined to move in together, while women hesitate to.

And the numbers reflect that because the amount of people who live alone has doubled over the past 35 years in the world

this doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker.

You can have a relationship and not live together.