And the percentage of older adults living in poverty is slightly lower than the national rate, suggesting its retirees may have better access to health care than the country as a whole. The Womens Center of The Villages is no longer open. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. THE VILLAGES, Fla. Friends up north and across Tampa Bay snickered when Brian Lafferty revealed where hed bought a new home. Escambia County's 2020 STD rate per 100,000 was 30% higher than Florida average and has exceeded the state average every year dating back to the 2006. . Susan Finkelstein is a registered nurse and medical education services manager for EPIC Sexual Health Center in St. Petersburg. In reality, I dont see much STDs, said Villa, who has worked in The Villages almost two decades. The Villages community began growing in the mid-1990s, and at the same time, the Sunshine State saw a rise in STD cases among the over-55 population. One reason is that the villages are a popular tourist destination. He became confused and expressed outrage over their decision to live in a gated community of close to 100,000 people with no children. Compared to other practitioners, I should. People just want to paint the picture that old people here are like young people in New Orleans. 61 among the top 100 U.S. cities with the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases. Some say a disgruntled nurse hurled it as an insult. Rates of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia among people 55 and older have slightly trended upwards in these counties since 2006, the year the myth about The Villages is believed to have begun. display: block; Gonorrhea Instances 4,971. . Dave, who refused to give his real name, bragged about his sexual escapades with women in their 70s. Accept. Reviews | It had legs, said Andrew Blechman, author of Leisureville: Adventures in a World Without Children, a 2009 book on life in The Villages that is referenced in almost all coverage of this issue. Apparently, The Villages has been noted as having (one of) the highest rates of STD in the country! campus, but for seniors. But rumors travel fast in communities with shared values and histories. In fact, looking at statistics from the Florida Department of Health, it is at the bottom for cases per 100,000 residents. In a Letter to the Editor, a Village of Santo Domingo woman wonders why there is only one movie theater open in The Villages. STD rates are climbing among people 55 and older. It cited two links that are no longer active, including the 2006 story. You're having sex with women that can't get pregnant anymore, and guess they're like why to use condoms. Thats compared to six in 10,000 seniors statewide. Old People. Many Villagers agreed, noting theyve never heard the myth from someone living in the community. Suddenly, adult children were calling their parents to find out what was going on. Florida identified 4,584 new HIV diagnoses, according to the most recent data available from the federal agencys HIV surveillance report, which collected data from 2015 to 2019. Letsgetstarted. Florida tracks sexually transmitted diseases by county of residence. The Villages has often declined to comment on rumors, but the reports have circulated in local and national media for years. Newsletter | By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. A moderator disabled comments on the post within days. Old People. It had received more than 300 responses. Spread of sexually transmitted diseases among older adults in Florida tended to be higher in counties with major cities and large Black and Latino populations, state data suggest, such as Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Its safe, and everyones happy. } Blechman also told the exploits of a 63-year-old bachelor known as Mr. As for the alledged STD rate, see the "Highest std rate?" section above, where the topic was rejected long ago as an urban legend. And will it ever go away? Florida tracks sexually transmitted diseases by county of residence. Rumors of high STD rates in the Villages persist. Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise nationally in the wake of the pandemic. Tallahassee is ranked at 14, surpassing other major cities in the state such as Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville. My doctor in Ohio even, when he asked where we spend time in Florida, stated Oh, The Villages the highest STD rate in the country, wrote Jan Schweitzer on the post. I think that fueled some of those rumors.. The myth snowballed from there. The findings concluded that STD rates continue to run rampant in the South, with nearly half of the top 25 cities with the highest STD rates in the South. It had legs, said Andrew Blechman, author of Leisureville: Adventures in a World Without Children, a 2009 book on life in The Villages that is referenced in almost all coverage of this issue. The Villages - The Villages, FL. The No. Often, the stories seized on signs that The Villagers were engaging in casual sex or dating, wielding them as evidence of heavy transmission within the retirement community. The city had 1,502 STD cases reported per 100,000. You can also get vaccinated against HPV and hepatitis B. A state Department of Health official declined to parse out the agencys data on a more granular level, such as a census-designated place like The Villages, citing privacy concerns. The Villages the highest STD rate in the country,'" wrote Jan Schweitzer . But is the worlds largest retirement community about 80 miles northeast of Tampa really a hotbed for these diseases? The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts. Because theres so much shame associated with them.. But as it finally started to die off, the community suffered a double whammy of sorts that brought it all back to life. I bought it because I want to play golf.. you can anticipate to spend between $807 and $1,262 per month to live in The Villages, Florida, depending on your home choice and the associated fees. TIL that Outback Steakhouse was founded in Tampa, FL by four Americans who had never visited Australia. Answer: If you think your partner has an STD its important to talk to them about it. Marion and Lake bore similar trends. Given the fact that Florida is one of the most popular . HIV can be managed long term with medication, but it can still be transmitted via unprotected sex or by sharing needles. Answer: You can get tested for STDs at your local health department community health center or doctors office. Friends up north and across Tampa Bay snickered when Brian Lafferty revealed where hed bought a new home. It cited two links that are no longer active, including the 2006 story. And the doctor was never named. The Truth Behind the Urban Legend .For more data, I just moved here now I know where Im going to apply to to work LOL. Tampa mayors chief of staff for police chief? Florida's Worst Counties For Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Since then many people, especially those who live in and/or promote The Villages, have done their best to set the record straight. Where did this pervasive legend start? Answer: Symptoms of STDs vary depending on the infection. Isnt that the STD capital of the United States?. What should I do? My stepmom begged a local group to let me into the adults-only class, and armed with a 35 mm disposable camera, I started my journey toward multimedia journalism. He puts on a wonderful act for people that, Medical WordPress Theme Copyright 2022 STDMonitor.com, Why is Floridas The Villages known as the STD capital of America?. Compared to other practitioners, I should. The Villages, Florida, USA - October 24, 2020: Golf carts parked downtown at Market Square in Sumter Landing. Spread of sexually transmitted diseases among older adults in Florida tended to be higher in counties with major cities and large Black and Latino populations, state data suggest, such as Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Broward counties. . "When people saw it as a fearful thing, because it was a life-threatening disease, they tended to be a little bit more cautious, Finkelstein said. Some health departments and community health centers offer free or low-cost STD testing. "First we must look at the population," says Dale Harrison the Regional STD Program Manager of The Florida Department of Health-Leon County. Sumter County had one of the lowest rates of sexually transmitted diseases among older adults in 2019 with about one in 10,000. Highest rates. Its an easy headline. Statistics from the Florida Department of Health show which of the state's 67 counties have had the most and least number of new cases of sexually transmitted diseases gonorrhea, chlamydia, and infectious syphilis over the three-year-period between 2009 and 2011. } With almost 450 homes sold per month, the gated 55+ community was the fastest growing metro in the United . Rumors abound about how the STD rumor started. Residents of The Villages are, of course, sexually active, said Dr. Marivic Villa, an internist who runs a health clinic in the retirement community. The Villages, Florida was nominated as a Geography and places good article, but it did not meet the good article criteria at the time (February 9, 2022). Notoriously averse to media interviews, Morse and The Villages community relations team did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Megamenu requires javascript to be enabled in your browser. In The Villages, 86% of seniors are white, according to U.S. Census data. Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter. You do not have access to www.55places.com. February 18, 2016, 8:49 AM . "I do believe The Villages area is in line with the rest of the state," Willis says. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, "The Villages Word of Mouth," was revealing. "We . Chlamydia Rate . An Edward R. Murrow Award-winning series explores the high costs of the pandemic for children and young adults. STDs. It appeared over the years everywhere from the New York Post to the Daily Mail. Purple is for those who like to watch. The same patterns emerged for diagnoses of human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV, among Floridas older adults. !And here's a chart of new STD cases per 100,000 people aged 55+ in Sumter County vs. the state as a whole: Any good statistician will tell you that you can make numbers say anything you want. Tallahassee, Fort Lauderdale, and . @media screen and (min-width: 1201px) { CVS MinuteClinic Address: 5208 East County Road 466 The Villages, FL 32162 Number: (866) 389-2727. While sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and syphilis are surging nationwide, much of this nascent spread is among adults in their teens and 20s, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. In the United States, sexually transmitted diseases carry salacious weight despite being remarkably common and highly treatable due to ongoing stigma, said Elizabeth Finley, spokesperson for the National Coalition of S.T.D. One of the pervasive characteristics of sexually transmitted infections is that people turn them into a punchline, Finley said. And it pointed out that with 80,000 residents in the community at the time, it should come as no surprise that a certain percentage would be interested in things like alcohol and sex. Loofah sponges may clean your body but theyre apparently a sexy sign that people are getting down and dirty. Some people love gossip about old people and sex.. The Orlando Sentinel article asserts that The Villages is 98 percent white. display: block; Spread of sexually transmitted diseases among older adults in Florida tended to be higher in counties with major cities and large Black and Latino populations, state data suggest, such as Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Broward counties. 14. 2.5 million reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, the three most commonly . Neither story had anything to do with STDs. But both served to fuel the rumor of promiscuity and wild times in The Villages, which by then was frequently being referred to as a quasi-college-like town for seniors who wanted to play hard and party even harder. Should T-shirts be allowed on The Villages golf courses? Finkelstein also attributes the higher rates to abstinence-only education in Floridas public schools, a requirement tied to funding. What are some of the most common STDs in Florida? The largest gated retirement community in the United States stretches across three zip codes, 32 miles, and is home to (as of 2017) 115,000 residents, all of them ages 55 and up. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, The Villages Word of Mouth, was revealing. THE VILLAGES, Fla. Friends up north and across Tampa Bay snickered when Brian Lafferty revealed where hed bought a new home. What Florida city has the highest STD rate in 2022? Baltimore, America's #1 city with the highest STD rates, reportedly has . Itll never go away.. Cadence at Lansdowne is a brand new 55+ active adult community offering a vibrant lifestyle in Lansdowne, Virginia. Some say a disgruntled nurse hurled it as an insult. Cases of STD per 100,000 population. Richard Willis, Florida Department of Health HIV/AIDS surveillance officer for Florida regions 3 and 13 (which includes The Villages), feels there's no significant difference in senior HIV rates in The Villages when compared to the rest of Florida. What should I do. Pensacola ranks No. Many of her patients come seeking testosterone therapy to improve their sex lives. "My doctor in Ohio even, when he asked where we spend time in Florida, stated 'Oh, The Villages the highest STD rate in the country,'" wrote Jan Schweitzer on the post. Copyright 2022 by The Associated Press All rights reserved. Privacy | Defund Planned Parenthood? However, not everyone agrees on the meaning behind the decorative ornaments. 2023 FOX Television Stations, 4 people found dead, including child, in Brevard County home, sheriff says, These 3 Florida roads are among the deadliest in the U.S., report shows, Surgeon runs down Philadelphia street to retrieve organ from transport vehicle stuck in traffic, SpaceX Crew-6 launch: 'All systems are looking good' for liftoff from Florida, Sheriff: Florida man shoots own dog in head, blames it on 'intruder', Video shows moment deputies say Florida teacher's aide is knocked unconscious by student upset she took Switch, Cheerleader competes alone at state champs after squad quits: It felt amazing, Mount Dora murders: State intends to seek death penalty against Vickie Williams, Lakefront chaos: Man on jet ski arrested for allegedly slapping 68-year-old woman, Matanzas High student to be charged as adult in attack against teacher's aid: court docs. 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