Skip to main content

Sexuality in Older Adults Reflection

What were the key takeaway points from the guest lecture today? Describe two occupational therapy interventions based on the topic. Each intervention should address a different type of client: individual (1:1), group, or population.

Key Takeaways
Our society creates myths that older adults are asexual.  While it is not often talked about, older adults remain sexually active into their later years.  Studies show that organs can relieve pain, reduce stress, improve sleep, boost immune system and cognitive functioning, as well as increase life span.  Knowing this, sex has a direct impact on older adult clients.  Today we gained an understanding of the fundamental differences between approaches to sexual interactions based on biological gender.    Sex is an occupation and therefore is covered in the occupational therapy scope of practice.  It is important for us to be educated on this topic in order to educate future clients who are experiencing sexual concerns or dysfunctions. We discussed physical pathology and medications that can make sexual responses more difficult.  A couple examples would be arthritis causing pain during sexual acts or antihistamines impacting lubrication.  Typically, clients will not initiate a conversation regarding sex due to fear or embarrassment, so it is our responsibility to bring it up if we suspect the core issue is interfering with sexual encounters.  I learned a lot of fundamental knowledge regarding sexual health, and feel a little more confident sharing this knowledge with clients in the future.  As practitioners, it is important we welcome these conversations and let our clients feel comfortable sharing the challenges and concerns they are experiencing.

Individual Intervention 
If I had a client who uses a wheelchair for mobility came to me with concerns on positioning during sexual encounters, I would recommend a liberator ramp. This ergonomic design supports a variety of comfortable, stable positions as well as relieves pressure from knees, back, and wrists.

Group Intervention
A quote from today’s lecture that impacted me was, “The mind is your most important sex organ.”  This is very true and an important concept to relay to future clients who are dealing with self-esteem or confidence issues that are interfering with sex.  A CBT-driven group session focused on body-image could greatly improve the sex life of older adults experiencing insecurities that are interfering with their sexuality. This session would involve education on how our thoughts can effect our sexual participation and how not participating in sexual encounters, in turn, can effect relationships.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Neuro Note #1 Lindsey Becker

For my first Neuro Note, I watched a few videos from Lindsey Becker's YouTube channel.  Lindsey is a woman with spina bifida and happens to be this year's Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee.  She uses a wheelchair in her everyday life, and posts videos on YouTube about how she adapts and modifies her environment to continue living a normal life.  The videos I watched included "Home Adaptations," "Wheelchair user Mazda RX-8 with adaptive hand controls," and "PSA for Package Delivery Couriers for Wheelchairs."  I chose to watch Lindsey's videos for this assignment because I was just informed she will be coming to UTHSC's campus as a SOTA guest speaker.  We also discuss home modifications in class, and I wanted to see what that looked like in an actual home.  In the first video, Lindsey walked the audience through all the modifications in her home including two ramps, shower and closet remodels, as well as kitchen remodeling plans.  It was eye-opening...

Rolling Grizzlies

Last night my OT class had the opportunity to watch a local D-I professional wheelchair basketball team practice.  The Rolling Grizzlies is an athletic group of men who compete in the highest wheelchair basketball division.  What an experience it was getting to watch them play.  Not only did we get to watch, but the players let us take their chairs for a spin!  I played basketball growing up, so I jumped at the opportunity to try out one of the chairs.  Instantly I realized the arm strength required to shoot and pass the ball from a seated position as well as the coordination needed for pushing the chair and dribbling the ball smoothly.  It is much harder than typical basketball.  These men played for an hour and a half with hardly any breaks.  This shows what great physical shape is required to participate in this game. During my undergraduate career, I was fortunate enough to take an adapted athletics course where we learned about all types of ...

Transfatty Lives - Neuro Note #3

"As ALS kills . . . Transfatty lives" Patrick O'Brien was diagnosed with ALS at a very young age of 30 years old.  Before this diagnosis, Patrick indulged in film making, mixing music, creating art, and drinking beer with his friends.  After his diagnosis he still continued to do just that.  He emerged from behind the lens and put himself and life with ALS in the spotlight.  He very accurately and creatively illustrated the progression of ALS. Watching this film through my "OT lens" helped me understand truly how fast some neurodegenerative diseases can progress and why it is important to always be thinking one step ahead.  One day Patrick was using a walker, and the next he was in a power chair.  This progression is something a practitioner must always consider in order to stay ahead of future obstacles.  I paid close attention to the transfers and bed mobility shown because we just recently learned those techniques in Biomechanics.  It ...