AGING AND SEXUALITY.   Term Paper ID:30372 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Discusses importance of love, intimacy and sex for healthy aging.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Discusses importance of love, intimacy and sex for healthy aging. Societal views of older people regarding sexual activity. Refers to studies and surveys on sex and aging. Women as victims of ageism more than men. Need for sex education for older people. Loss of work-related relationships and other close relationships. Paper Introduction: The topic of Love, Intimacy and Sexuality in the area of healthy aging is of major importance today for several relevant reasons. "A happy sex life is part of the enjoyment of good health. Enjoyable sex refreshes both the mind and body" (Gillie & Mercer, 1979, p. 158). The elderly population is increasing annually at the same time that a youth-culture mentality is flourishing. A commonly held societal view is that older people ought not, or do not want to engage in sexual activity. Studies and research data, however, indicate that there is no automatic cut-off age for sexual activity. The loss of desire and need for love and intimacy are not dependent on the calendar. While there are significant changes in the physical and psychological aspects of sex with age, in the absence of illness or psychological factors, such changes do not lessen the capacity to en Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. References Gillie, O. Attitudes toward love, intimacy and sex do not generally alter in oldage, but reflect a lifelong pattern of sexual behavior. 158). The loss of these intimate relationships andwork can leave a vacuum in the day to day lives of many older people. Many people aresexually intimate well into their 8 s and beyond. The elderly populationis increasing annually at the same time that a youth-culture mentality isflourishing. Such educationalinterventions to change negative attitudes of children and caregivers ofthe elderly, as well as society as a whole, would also be of great use tohelp young and old alike realize the positive results on healthy aging thatintimate relationships have for older adults. In fact, as the Sexual HealthInfoCenter points out, personal relationships become even more important.Although many older people may still have spouses or life partners, theloss of children and career intensifies the need for love, intimacy and sex"as a way of solidifying our relationship with our partner and takingrefuge from the sometimes harsh reality of the world. (1979). The needfor intimacy does not diminish with age. Unfortunately, sex is notusually discussed in senior centers or retirement homes. Demeter, D. More recent data on sex and aging confirms the earlierfindings. Sexual Health InfoCenter. (August 3, 1999). Demeter (1998) contends that women are more oftenthe victims of ageism than men are in American society. The complete book of bodymaintenance. (Ed.). New York: W.W. More than 7 out of 1 sexually active men and womensaid they were as satisfied, or even more satisfied, with their sex livesas they were in their 4 s; 43 percent said that their sex is just as goodas or better than in their youth" (Social Gerontology: Sex and theElderly). (1982). As early as 1979 data indicated that "many old people continue toenjoy sex in their eighties and there is often no reason why sex lifeshould not continue at this age. & Mercer, D. Older adults could greatly benefit from interventionsthat would help alter negative attitudes and patterns, and professionals inthe field of gerontology, health education and psychology could greatlyprofit the aging population with interventions that could change lifelongnegative patterns and thus lead to more healthy aging. Enjoyable sex refreshes boththe mind and body" (Gillie & Mercer, 1979, p. Available: http://www.umkc.edu/sites/hsw/age/ Social Gerontology: Sex and the elderly. As the studies indicate, older adults can enjoy and participate inintimacy and sexual relations. The exercise is good for the heart andlungs, quite apart from the pleasure which sex itself brings" (Gillie &Mercer, p. "A happy sexlife is part of the enjoyment of good health. Retrieved 2 1.Available: http://www.trinity.edu/mkearl/gerosex.html Sex & Aging. Retrieved 2 1.Available: http://www.sexhealth.org/sexaging/ Sex And Aging. There is a widelyheld myth that physical attractiveness and sex belong solely to the young,a belief also held by some elderly people. In addition, as people age, many relatives, partners, mates andclose friends have passed on. The loss of desire and need for love and intimacy are notdependent on the calendar. PR Newswire. Studies and research data,however, indicate that there is no automatic cut-off age for sexualactivity. This may hold true for couples in a marital relationship aswell as for single, divorced or widowed older adults. Sexual issues for aging adults.Available: http://www.hs.ttu.edu/sexuality& aging/ White, C.B. White (1982) holdsthat people who are sexually active when they are young "tend to continuethis pattern in their later years." On the other hand, negative attitudestoward love, intimacy and sex that were formed in youth continue to holdtrue in later years. As people age, they are usually faced with the elimination of two verysatisfying and nurturing parts of life; these are careers and co-workers,and in many cases grown children who are on their own and do not livenearby. Norton & Company. Sex is a way toaffirm the love of life....It expresses the closeness of our deepestrelationships and is an important measure of the quality of life." Healthy aging is, of course, inevitably tied to the quality of life.The quality of life can be maintained in old age if one is lucky enough tobe relatively healthy, to have a network of friends, to have hobbies orsome kind of work in which creativity can be expressed -- whether it isvolunteering at a free health clinic, or a local school, gardening,painting, sports or any other activity that fills time in a meaningful way. "There is ampleevidence to suggest that sex education for older people leads to thedevelopment of more positive attitudes....the current cohort of olderpeople continues to have few opportunities than their younger counterpartsto access education..." (Deacon, Minichiello, Plummer, 1995). Demeter (1998), andhealth educators, hold that "couples need to be open with each other andbring love and acceptance to a sexual problem so as to enhance theirrelationship." Sex education, which is usually reserved for the veryyoung, would be helpful for older people. Forhealthy aging to occur, new personal relationships must be formed. The topic of Love, Intimacy and Sexuality in the area of healthy agingis of major importance today for several relevant reasons. Deacon, Minichiello, Plimmer, 1995 believethat "cultural attitudes that revere reproductiveness and youthful goodlooks may contribute to the expectation that older people, are, or ought tobe asexual." Another factor for decreased sexual relations is that many olderadults are not familiar with the physical changes that are a normal part ofaging, and may come to believe that they are sexually inadequate; this, inturn, can lower their self-esteem, raise their anxiety level, andultimately prevent them from attempting to engage in intimaterelationships. We do not all of a suddenbecome asexual beings; our capacity for sexual intimacy will be with us ourentire lives." In 1998 there was vast media coverage of the results of a surveycommissioned by the National Council on Aging; the survey reported "thatnearly one-half of Americans 6 and older engaged in sexual activities atleast once a month. 186). Retrieved2 1. "Sex and the elderly." The human sexuality WEB. There are, however, several mitigatingfactors preventing intimacy and sex.In the case of women especially, the lack of available partners candecrease sexual activity. A 1999 survey conducted by the American Association of Retired People(AARP) on sex and aging revealed that despite popular myths to thecontrary, "most elderly people are able to lead an active, satisfying sexlife" (PR Newswire, 1999). Sexual issues for aging adults.Available: http://www.hs.ttu.edu/sexuality& aging/ The Sexual Health InfoCenter (2 1) reports that "most olderpeople experience some interest in sexual intimacy. In addition, the role of love, intimacy and sex in healthy aging cannot beunderestimated. Health educators can make aninvaluable contribution to healthy aging by helping to eliminate myths andmisconceptions regarding sex and the elderly. For example, many people believethat when a woman goes through menopause and can no longer bear children,she should accept the fact that her sex life is at an end. Retrieved 6/19/ 1.Available:http://www.findarticles.com/cf_ /m4PRN/1999_August_3/55337252/print.jhtml Deacon, Minichiello, Plummer, (1995). While older menare not expected to give up their sex lives so readily, the myth of the"dirty old man" still exists. A commonly held societal view is that older people ought not,or do not want to engage in sexual activity. While there are significant changes in thephysical and psychological aspects of sex with age, in the absence ofillness or psychological factors, such changes do not lessen the capacityto engage in and enjoy sex in older adults. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.

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