Old but not sexually dead: Consensual sex in nursing homes

 

Just because a person gets older, doesn't mean he or she has no sexual drive and does not need information regarding safer sex. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older people have an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) because healthcare officials don't often focus on prevention programs for this population. Recently, Medical News Today reported on a study which found that nursing homes don't respect the sexual needs of seniors, which is something that needs to change.

Researchers from the Australian Center for Evidence Based Aged Care found that even though many elderly individuals remain sexually active when they live independently, once they enter a nursing home most of them can expect to be treated like a naughty teenager if they want to have sex.

The scientists said that safety fears, insufficient privacy, concerns about duty of care, anxieties about potential repercussions from relatives and ageism lead to elderly individuals losing their "basic human right" to engage in consensual sexual activity.

"Since it has been well established that sexuality and intimacy continue to be important in later life and are central to an individual's health and well-being, the lack of attention paid by aged care facilities to residents' sexual needs is concerning," said study authors, quoted by the news source.

According to the researchers, older individuals reported that they would appreciate some acknowledgement of the fact that they may be sexually active. Furthermore, they would like healthcare providers to ask about their sexual needs.

These findings serve as an important reminder that elderly people may be sexually active and in need of counseling on safer sex and STDs. Healthcare providers should not hesitate to talk openly with elderly patients about sexual health.