Despite what many people want to believe, some elderly people are sexually active. That reality needs to be confronted, so that sexually active elderly people are properly protected.
Absolutely no one wants to think about the possibility of their grandparents having sex. That is somewhat understandable. However, you do not have to think of the act itself, to think about the reality that elderly people do continue to be sexually active.
It is actually very important that we do think about that reality, because it is true.
The unwillingness of people to confront that reality causes problems for the elderly, as USA Today explains in “Yes, your grandmother is having sex.”
One of the biggest problems is that elderly people are getting sexually transmitted diseases at increasingly alarming rates.
One of the reasons appears to be that elderly people are far less likely to use condoms than younger people. Some of that might be the result of nursing home policies that often tend to be completely silent on issues of resident sexual activity and thus do not make protection available.
Many elderly people also think condoms are for preventing pregnancy not for preventing the transmission of diseases.
Elder law advocates need to address this issue and insist that nursing homes write appropriate sexual activity policies.
Families should also make sure that their elderly members are informed and protected.
Reference: USA Today (April 12, 2017) “Yes, your grandmother is having sex.”
