Introduction and Objectives The ageing population and spiralling health care costs have helped create an increased focus on healthy ageing and wellness. This focus arises when myths about older age sexuality persist reinforcing social stereotyping depicting the older person as an asexual being. The researcher’s clinical experience has established that some older people are willing to discuss their sexuality but barriers exist in communicating experiences and concerns to health professionals. The research project explores the meaning of sexuality, the experience of sexual desire and the impact on wellbeing from the older person’s perspective. This aspect is significant in that it has previously been unexplored. Study Aims To describe the meaning of sexuality in an older population group. To explicate the experiences of sexual desire identified by the study group. To describe the impact of sexual desire on wellbeing identified by the study group. To communicate sexual experiences, issues and concerns from the perspective of the older person to the general population. To promote Healthy Ageing and holistic health care by raising awareness of older age sexuality. Method A phenomenological method was used to investigate and describe older age sexuality as an aspect of total health care in thirty three (33) people aged over 65 years. Multiple interviews were conducted over a two year period. Results The findings from the study demonstrate that there is an astonishing diversity in how some older people adapt to changes in health and relationship status and in how they enact their own sexual identity. The issue of sexually transmitted diseases is increasingly significant in the older population. The implications are that with increased knowledge, health professionals may give more consideration to the sexual needs of the older person within the delivery of total health care.
Conflict of Interest: None disclosed
Financial Support/Funding: None disclosed
Sydney, Australia, April 2007
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