Our attitudes about sexuality & aging may influence an older adults’ sexual health.
Researchers¹ have found that sex among older adults is often viewed as stereotypically “shameful, disgusting, laughable, and nonexistent”, which can lead to internalized stigma and increased sexual problems for older adults. To date, much of the research on aging sexuality issues has been conducted with healthcare providers who serve an aging population, including long-term care staff, and have found mixed results on permissive versus restrictive attitudes of staff. Current research¹ and healthcare policies also suggest that aging stigma is present within healthcare institutions where aging sexual concerns are often underreported, ignored, and left untreated.
In fact, a recent survey² of more than 1,000 adults between 65-80 years old, found that 50.9% of men and 30.8% of women reported being sexually active. In this same survey, when it came to discussing sexual health with health care providers, however, only 17.3% of adults aged 65–80 reported speaking to their health care provider about sexual health in the past two years and of those, the vast majority (60.5%) initiated the conversation².
On the contrary, research conducted in community samples of older adults¹, are finding that sexual stigma beliefs may NOT be as prevalent among the general population as cohorts become more sexually liberal over time. For example, as the Baby Boomers move into older adulthood and replace previous generations, they bring a more sexually liberal belief system that also places a higher importance on sexual well-being¹
So, in an effort to help mental health, senior care, and health care providers reflect on our own values and attitudes, I interview sexual health and aging expert, Dr. Maggie Syme.
In this interview Dr. Maggie Syme and I discuss:
- What it means to be a sexual citizen
- Attitudes about sexuality and aging
- Current research on intimacy and aging
- Benefits of sexuality and intimacy in older adulthood
- Dementia and sexual expression
- What sexual liberation looks like for older adults
Dr. Regina Koepp is a board certified clinical psychologist, clinical geropsychologist, and founder and CEO of the Center for Mental Health & Aging: the “go to” place for mental health and aging. Dr. Koepp is a sought after speaker on the topics of mental health and aging, caregiving, ageism, resilience, intimacy in the context of life altering Illness, and dementia and sexual expression. Dr. Koepp is on a mission to ensure mental health and belonging for older adults, because every person at every age is worthy of healing, transformation, and love. Learn more about Dr. Regina Koepp here.
Regina Koepp, PsyD, ABPP
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