My mother did what with whom?

Understanding Human Sexuality in the Golden Years 101: A primer for professionals

by Katherine A. Forsythe, MSW

(adapted from Kat’s December 2010 Agenda magazine article)

Welcome to the Silver Sexual Revolution. As champions of older adults, we can pat ourselves on the back for actively affirming the whole person throughout the lifespan. We talk about wellness and healthy lifestyle. We knock ourselves out to create a home-like environment for our residents. In the midst of all the loving, efficient, productive support we give, however, we may be missing one of the biggest affirmations of all – sensitively supporting the expression of sexuality late in life.

Sexuality means, simply: who we are as men and women, and how that plays out for each of us, throughout the lifetime. We are born as sexual beings – as a man or a woman, and unless we are transexual, we will remain in that same role until we die. There are statistics to back up our need to articulate our uniqueness as a man or a woman well into later years – but we don’t need research to tell us. If you have any doubts, take a look at residents getting ready for a social event. Consider the many ways of expressing womanhood or manhood. Most obviously, ladies don their best jewelry and makeup. Men wear their best “duds”. Flirting happens as much at 90 as it did at 19.

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