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29| The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,M ay 31,2018 theifp.ca Government of Canada Gouvernement du Canada INVITATIONTO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST ASTOTHE AVAILABILITY OF SPACE FOR LEASE IN GEORGETOWN, ONTARIO FILE NUMBER: 81000491 Public Works and Government Services Canada is asking interested parties to submit a response by June 14, 2018, with respect to basic office space and public access space available for lease in buildings in Georgetown, for a term of five years commencing on or about August 1, 2019. To respond to this invitation and to view the complete text of the request, please log on to www.buyandsell.gc.ca/ goods-and-services/leasing-of-real-property or call Vaylon Fernandes at 416-590-8268. It gives a whole new meaning to needing better bedside man- ner. The Independent Free Press (IFP) has conducted a survey of seniors in Halton Hills and found that 90 per cent of respon- dents had not spoken to their doctor about their sexual health and practicing safe sex. In a world of Viagara and on- line dating, seniors have more opportunity to engage in amo- rous activity later on into life, but with that pleasure comes some pitfalls. Seniors are getting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In 2016, Halton public health reported over 1,896 incidents of chlamydia across the region and 262 incidents of gonorrhea. While the rates are nowhere near their millennial counter- parts, a small percentage of men over 60 and over 70 report- ed testing positive for gonor- rhea, as well as a small percent- age of men between 60-69 as having chlamydia. The numbers in Halton don't point to an imminent crisis. Georgetown doctor and Onta- rio Medical Association presi- dent Nadia Alam says that se- niors are getting STIs, and it's an issue that doctors need to be cognoscente of. "Doctors have to remember to ask about safe sex practices," said Alam, explaining that medical professionals need to remember that seniors are sex- ually active, and also fight the embarrassment of broaching the subject. "Family members have to re- member to ask about safe sex practices," she said, "even though, for a kid, a son or a daughter, to ask their senior parent about safe sex practices can feel very awkward." She recommends broaching the subject when an older fami- ly member is starting a new re- lationship. "It is tricky," she admits, re- calling one patient she has, whose elderly mother had just started dating again. The daughter bought a box of con- doms as a gift, as a way of saying she supports her mom, respects her freedom and wanted her to be safe. "I thought that was a really good way of approaching it," said Alam. The physician stresses the importance of breaking down these barriers and opening up a dialogue about safe sex with se- niors. Barbara Marshall, professor of sociology and women's stud- ies at Trent University says that there are many inaccurate ste- reotypes about seniors' sexual- ity. "The rise in STIs has been a pretty widely noted issue," said Marshall, who specializes in re- search on aging and sexuality, explaining that there's a num- ber of factors at play. "People are living longer," said Marshall. "we're seeing a lot more people re-partnering later on in life as a result of marriage breakdowns, as a re- sult of widowhood." She says that to look at peo- NEWS It's time to talk to grandpa about sex, because chances are, his doctor isn't Georgetown Doctor Nadia Alam says physicians need to be speaking to their elderly patients about safe sex. Alexandra Heck/Metroland l See OMA, page 30 Survey finds majority of Halton Hills seniors not talking to doctor about sexual health ALEXANDRA HECK aheck@metroland.com