Aging & Sexual Health

The opportunity to develop and maintain intimacy in later life can be challenging.  Factors that can affect this can be due to declining health, increased incidence in of diseases that affect physical and psychological function, and habits such as smoking and alcohol.  While there is a decline in activity as individuals age, the majority of healthy people with partners wish to remain sexual into later years in life.  It is important that we as OTs should recognize this as a valued activity for older adults and provide interventions to support sexual activity as appropriate.

Interventions such as activity pacing, energy conservation, joint protection, range of motion, and pain management were mentioned in the sexual health lecture.  Group sessions can be held for clients with chronic diseases on activity pacing and energy conservation.  Educating individuals on planning sexual activities for a time of day or day of the week when energy levels are at their highest can be very important and helpful for those with fatigue and weakness. Individual sessions on positioning can also be held for a client who has undergone a total hip replacement or any other major surgery that limits or restricts range of motion.