Interesting topic but as rightly indicated a taboo topic in many ways. In eastern countries, though the desire, need and ability for sex in older persons exist, it is not expressed; nor do they seek any kind of help from formal quarters. In the west also situation is similar but to lesser extent, I believe. From the point of view of protecting senior citizens from unsafe sex, www.safersex4seniors.org has been set up. You may find some interesting stuff, especially as a sort of imparting useful info, here.

There are assumptions that older adults are asexual beings, I agree, and this is problematic. Maybe it's rooted in the "ick" factor that younger people experience in contemplating sexuality in people like their parents. There are social taboos (which have an important purpose in preventing incest) at work here. But you are right that we must overcome them and have these discussions. I tell my nursing students that they must initiate discussion of sexuality, because otherwise it will not be said. Patients and physicians typically do not discuss this.

It recently came up in the institution where I work that, a form of communication of " I am still sexually active " came up when a resident requested and granted that permission to watch pornographic movie, although at night and only in his room, but not without a headphone.

Is there any study that treats this topic?

The topic of sex, is very heavy and very difficult to talk about in the public, especially being termed a "taboo" in some many culture. But this is also an aspect of activity of daily living, like eating, breathing, sleeping, excreting and so on and so forth, therefore if it is overlooked, then one of human´s vital activities of daily living is being neglected.

Certain behaviours of this said resident might mean gradually or rapidly becoming addicted, as he started, without caution masturbating even in the presence of some health care workers. Is this behaviour of such resident not the result of excessive watching of pornographic movies --- hyper sexual disorder? Any findings related to such behaviours? Could this be termed as abuse of co-residents and or health care workers?

Referent this topic, I think this article is interesting:

Stacy Tessier Lindau, M.D ; M.A.P.P; L Philip Schumm, M.A; Edward O. Laumann, PhD; Wendy Levinson, M.D; Colm A. O´Muircheartaigh, PhD; and Linda J. Waite, PhD.

"A study of Sexuality and Health among Older Adults in the United States".

N Engl J Med 2007; 357: 762- 774.

Sincerely.

Diana.

Lima, Perú.

It is a relevant in interesting topic. It should be further investigated. To me it seems remarkeable that sexual activity or sexual related problems are not mentioned within geriatric assessments or other evaluation tools.

Attended an excellent workshop on sexuality and dementia at the UK Brighton Dementia Congress last year that included contributions from people living with dementia. Everyone agreed this is pretty much an unspoken area, particularly when it comes to lesbian, gay and transgender people in later life. We need to open up this conversation in the practice domain as the workshop usefully highlighted we are really talking the whole range of the human sexual encounter from hugging and kissing to achieved intercourse. The feeling of being cared for is part of the issue so this has to get more sophisticated than a debate over acess to pornography.

I want to thank everyone that has contributed to this topic. It seems not to be getting any much response, which might not be far from the topic being a "taboo-topic".

Very close observations have been made on a resident. (1.) When he is allowed to watch his "P-Movie", he slept well earlier and without much or no agitation. (2.) He is much more friendly, lively and happier than when not.

But the end result of this is "problematic", because, he always got that urge and tendency to masturbate, resulting to either messing up his incontinence diapers, or even the whole bed.

Here is an interesting reference for this topic:

B.L. Marshall, & S. Katz. 2009. Forever Fitness and the Aging Male Body.In S. Katz ( Ed.), Cultural Aging. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

Only an elder law attorney, with no studies to cite, but in my experience in overseeing the care of elderly clients, inappropriate sexual expressions and activity are part of the cognitive decline. It is often socially inappropriate and a divergence from behavior earlier in life, based on conversations with the families.

Older adults are stereotyped to no longer be sexual beings. Issues regarding their sexuality and sexual activity are not routinely addressed by healthcare providers. Interestingly, this is often the case because healthcare providers believe the stereotyping and /or are uncofortable speaking to older adults about sexual topics. For older adults, it was not appropriate or acceptable to discuss sex and sexuality when they were younger. As a result, they often do not broach the subject with health care providers. This places the responsibility on healthcare providers to initiate a discussion. Taking a sexual history and asking older adult patients about sexual activity as part of every well visit is a start. As "baby boomers" are reaching old age, attitudes toward sex among older adults are changing. Remember, the baby boomer generation is the "sexual revolution" generation and proponents of "free love." With sexual activity continuing well into their 80s, STDs among older adults have increased significantly. So, it is even more important for healthcare providers to ask questions that can lead to opportunities for STD screening and provision of sorely needed sex education for older adults.

Thanks Sharon W Stark for your contributions.