The Sexless Years or Sex Rediscovered

Abstract

In the literature on North American gerontology the topic of 'sexuality and aging' has produced only a handful of studies, primarily in the 1970s. This paper is an overview of the topic. It examines some of the current issues related to aging and sexuality. Included are the myths, stereotypes, factual trends, sexual changes, institutional life and sexuality and professionals in institutions. The positive aspects of sexuality and aging are also explored. [Article copies available from The Haworth Docum& Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: getinfo@haworth.com]

Older Women and Sexuality: Experiences in Marital Relationships across the Life Course

“…As in the existing research on rates of sexual activity in later life (Brecher, 1984;Schlesinger, 1995;Gott, 2001), most of the women reported that, while they had initially been more sexually active and passionate with their later-life partners, the amount of sexual activity, defined again as sexual intercourse, had declined over time, usually due to the husband's health problems. These findings are in line with the extant research, which suggests that, in addition to the loss of partners, decreased rates of sexual activity with advancing age are often the result of the onset of physical or mental health problems, physiological changes, or the side-effects of prescription medication (Rice, 1995;Segraves & Segraves, 1995;Daniluk, 2003;Butler & Lewis, 2002).…”

“…This article investigates women's perceptions of their married, later-life sexual relationships and of how their experiences of sexuality have changed over time. Despite the importance of socially constructed meanings, later-life sexuality research tends to focus on the impact of ageism on older adults' experiences (Bazzini, McIntosh, Smith, Cook, & Harris, 1997;Bildtgard, 2000;Butler & Lewis, 2002;Walz, 2002), on the declining rates of sexual activity among older couples (Brecher, 1984;Schlesinger, 1995;Gott, 2001), and on the social and physical reasons for this decline (Butler & Lewis, 1983;Crose & Drake, 1993;Levy, 1994;Rice, 1995;Segraves & Segraves, 1995;Spector & Fremeth, 1996;Matthias, Lubben, Atchison, & Schweitzer, 1997). Calasanti and Slevin (2001) maintain that the existing research has failed to account for older adults' emergent definitions of sexuality.…”

Education about sexuality in the elderly by healthcare professionals: a survey from the Southern Hemisphere

“…Healthcare professionals who provide services for older people require understanding of human sexuality in order to assist older people to deal with physiological, practical, and psychological factors that may impede their expression of sexuality (Hillman 2008;Schlesinger 1996). Facts should replace myths and stereotypes, although the provision of facts alone may not influence strongly held beliefs.…”

Sexual knowledge, attitudes and activity of older people in Taipei, Taiwan

“…A study in the United States showed that a higher level of sexual satisfaction in community-dwelling, older, disabled women living with their spouses was associated with reduced risk for subsequent new severe disabilities (Onder et al 2003). Although physical changes that typically occur with ageing may reduce sexual activity in later years (Kaiser 1996, Schlesinger 1996, Zeiss 1997), many elders still have great interest in participating in sex in their 70s, 80s and even 90s (Cowling & Campbell 1986, Kaiser 1996, Gott & Hinchliff 2003. Sexual problems among older people have been shown to be due to certain medical conditions, drug therapy for these medical conditions, or lack of education in sexual matters (McCracken 1988).…”