The situation might be further complicated for residents identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer (LGBTIQ), who can feel obliged to go “back into the closet” when they enter care. In 2017, 18% of people living with HIV were aged 50 years and older. This results in older adults being diagnosed at a more advanced stage of HIV infection at diagnosis than younger people, and have a higher HIV morbidity and mortality and a faster disease progression. Some older people may feel ashamed or afraid of being tested and doctors often overlook older people’s sexuality and do not think to test older people for sexually transmitted diseases. Signs of HIV/AIDS can be mistaken for the aches and pains of normal ageing. The need of care residents for sexuality and intimacy are often absent from policy and practice.īecause of shortcomings in promoting safe sex throughout all stages of the lifecourse, there is a growing number of older people living with HIV/AIDS. The sexuality of care home residents is particularly challenging and often seen as a problem, instead of as a right. Internalized ageist stereotypes lead older people to become less interested in sex and less sexually active.
The stereotypical understanding of older people’s intimate life hinders the development of adequate support to address older people’s sexual health needs. However, images of older people in intimate relationships remain either rare or stereotypical: since the turn of the millennium, we note a progressive recognition of the sexual health needs of older adults. But in place of the old idea of seniors losing interest in sex, new stereotype - of the ‘ sexy senior’ or the ‘ cougar’ - pictures a remaining youthfully attractive and sexually active older adult.
Time to break the taboos!Ī growing abundance of evidence shows that older adults are sexually active. Ageism prevents us to respect all forms of intimacy and sexual orientation in later life. Older people are often stereotyped as non-sexual beings who should not, cannot, and do not want to have sexual relationships.