10 Ways To Be Intimate With Your Partner

As we age, our relationships change, and sex can be put on the back burner. Whether it be due to physical reasons (nearly 70% of men are affected by erectile dysfunction by the time they are 70), medical reasons (illness or injury) or simply a decreased libido, many married and partnered seniors find themselves no longer sharing a bed or even a room. This can lead to concerns about the relationship and worries about how to maintain intimacy without this physical act. Here are 10 suggestions to help you stay connected to the one you love.

1. Spend some time cuddling

Take pleasure in a cuddling session. Feeling the embrace of your partner can provide a true feeling of intimacy. Put on a little background music, soak in the stillness of you and your partner together, and appreciate the feeling of their breath and sound of their heartbeat. It can feel much more intimate than you might think.

2. Talk about what’s important

The greater the seriousness of the conversation, the more intimate the dialogue. Initiate a conversation where you and your partner discuss the things that matter to you most and the things you would like most from that other person. Understanding these things can help you feel closer to your person.

3. Dance together

Not only is dancing a great form of exercise, but it can also be most intimate when shared with another person. Take up a dance class or break out in dance within the comfort of your own kitchen, either way, dancing can be one of the most effortless ways to feel close to your partner.

4. Offer your assistance with something

Sometimes our actions speak louder than our words. People appreciate both feeling needed and listened to. Noticing the dishes in the sink and clothes in the laundry basket might be the first step towards letting your partner feel appreciated without having to say a word.

5. Try something new together

Trying something new together can be one of the best ways of feeling close to your partner. Perhaps it’s something like a pottery class or a fishing adventure, sharing new experiences with your partner can be a great way of feeling intimate without the physical act of sex. Trying new things makes you both feel vulnerable and that can be simple, yet exciting!

6. Sleep together

No, not sex. Literally sleeping together. Curl up with each other and drift off. Trusting each other enough to simply sleep together is incredibly intimate, not to mention it can also be strangely romantic.

7. Play a game of truth or dare

There is nothing more delicious and more romantic than honesty sprinkled with a little adventure. It doesn’t have to be an explicit game, but sometimes a little healthy competition with your partner can make the two of you feel closer. Try including a few things you’d like to try in the ‘dare’ category and things about your partner you’d like to know for the ‘truth’ category.

8. Give each other a massage

You don’t need to go to a professional, but rather give each other massages instead. It can be so incredibly sexy to have that man or woman rub all the tension out of your neck and back. Make it even more intimate and leave clothing optional.

9. Cook together

There is something to be said about the couple that chooses to stay in and save the 5-course meal at the fanciest restaurant in town for another night. No 3-piece suits and cocktail dresses required. Just you and your partner in the kitchen, wearing your comfiest clothing, and teaming up to put together a delicious meal can be beautifully intimate.

10. Focus on just simply kissing

Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost sight of the joy of a simple makeout. Keep the clothes on and enjoy the thrill of kissing without expecting anything more.

It is possible to remain close and connected in your relationship even after the sex has gone. Even so, it’s natural to feel hurt, sad and even angry that sex is not as big a part of your life anymore. As with any change, it is hard to accept. Just remember to be open and honest with your loved one about how you are feeling.