In spite of what you may have thought or heard, many older adults enjoy active and fulfilling sex lives into their later years. In fact, they even tend to live longer. Unfortunately, too many people avoid discussing sex when it relates to older adults. This often gives an inaccurate portrayal of the role of sexuality in aging adults' lives. Sex doesn't belong to youth, and safe sex practices belong to all ages.
Research shows that older adult sexuality is usually only discussed in healthcare settings when patients initiate the discussions. More information initiated by healthcare providers would keep older adults better informed about evolving sexuality issues that have changed through the years. Primary care providers and nurse practitioners may need more older adult sexuality training themselves to meet the needs of this growing and changing population when they initiate more sexuality discussions with patients.
Any discussion of older adult sexuality must include the importance of their using safe sex practices. HIV/AIDS is an illness of older adults, too. Just because many women in this population are postmenopausal does not mean they should not use condoms with vigilance. Online dating and more sexual experimentation with drugs can promote the likelihood of unprotected sex that some older adults may underestimate.
The following video titled "Sexuality and Older Adults" from healthcare collaborators at Johns Hopkins Medicine shares important healthcare information in detail.
Frances Shani Parker, Author
Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes is available in paperback and ebook editions in America and other countries at online and offline booksellers.
Caregivers are often faced with the responsibility of caring for a parent. This task can be difficult, especially when multiple caregivers are involved.
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There are many ways that caregivers can care for their parents. Some people find it helpful to have a specific plan in place, like weekly check-ins or
regular visits from medical professionals. Others find it helpful to plan for emergencies and create a list of emergency contacts and resources.
ReplyDeleteThe caregiving journey is a long and challenging one. It can be hard to know where to start or how to go about it. But it’s not impossible. You just need to know what you’re getting into, and have the right tools and resources on hand.
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The first step is understanding what type of care you will need for your parent, who will be the caregiver, and how much time they can commit each day or week. The next step is finding a home care agency that offers the type of care you need for your loved one in your area.