Aging & Social Change: Ninth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Very little consideration is given to sexual and erotic expression or intimate relationships among the elderly. The aging population continues to change and sexual and intimate connections remain important quality of living issues for a majority of those over 65. Those working with aging populations over the next twenty years will contend with issues never before seen, from sexual medicine (eg, Viagra, Cialis, flibanserin), technology (eg, social and dating apps, porn), and greater acceptance of such issues as non-committed sexual relationships, same-sex relationships and erotic play, transgender/transsexual individuals, and a more open view of sexuality in general. Understanding and accommodating these issues is confounded by a pervasive fear and lack of understanding of different forms of dementia and whether such individuals have the capacity to consent to sexual activity. This workshop will present information on how our aging populations are changing and how these changes can be accommodated in elder and care communities. Participants will also discuss dementia and how sexual and intimate contact for those so diagnosed are still entitled to intimacy and erotic expression without ascribing a label of abuse. Participants will also be presented with an overview of some common issues with age-related changes, illness and disability, as well as effects of select medications. The last part of the workshop will include discussion and brainstorming about how we can develop policies and procedures to help create environments that are understanding and accommodating of the erotic and intimacy needs of older adults.