Concerned about sexually transmitted infections among seniors, a sexual health centre in Calgary has come up with a sex education program for those over 65.

The program, called Seniors A GoGo, is meant to open up conversations about safe sex and sexuality, said Nicole Hergert, a counsellor at the Calgary Sexual Health Centre.

'I don't think it matters how old you are; it's still one of the necessities of life. I mean that's what life is about.'—Oliver Christensen

"The idea behind the project is that people are having sex after 65. It's a fact. So we are trying to come up with ways to open that conversation, so it's more normalized and more accessible," she said.

"I've been bombarded with safe-sex messages growing up, whereas a lot of people over the age of 50 don't even know that [sexual transmitted infections] are out there, what they are or how you get them."

The centre is partnering with the Seniors Action Group to develop a series of monologues written and performed by seniors, which will be presented in May and June. No dates have been set, but the group plans to perform in libraries, at Calgary's Kerby Centre for seniors, a sexual health conference, and local residences.

A Calgary "sex positive boutique" called A Little More Interesting is also a partner in the project and will host a production.

"In the past all the literature, particularly on seniors, has focused on problems and dysfunction, and not really on enjoyment," said co-owner Susan Naylen.

"What we are hoping to do is give seniors a place to come to have a discussion outside the forum.… We bring the fun, the play. We carry things in the store, like furniture designed to make sex better [for people] with mobility issue."

Senior says sex wasn't up for discussion

Oliver Christensen, an 85-year-old who is interested in the project, said he has a hard time talking about sex with other seniors and he wishes there was more open dialogue about healthy sex at any age.

"In the era I grew up in there was things you did and things you didn't do, and one of the things you didn't do is talk about sex," he said.

"It doesn't matter how old you are. It's still there. I think you die with it. I don't think it matters how old you are; it's still one of the necessities of life. I mean that's what life is about."

According to AIDS Calgary, statistics from the Calgary health region show that in 2006, 15 per cent of HIV infections were in people ages 51 and 60, and five per cent of those infected were older than 60.