Sex. Are you talking to your older clients and/or family members about it? The results are in, and many of you are! 48% of people responding to last week’s quick question reported that they have had a conversation about sex with their older clients or family members. Comments ranged from “I think that would be very uncomfortable” to “This is a very popular topic for many of our older volunteers.” It may be time to start having those conversations, if you haven’t already. According to Elizabeth Boskey, Ph.D., “more than 60% of individuals over 60 have sex at least once a month,” and rates of new HIV infections among people over 50 are growing faster than among people age 40 and under (source).

This week ASA’s LGBTQ Aging Issues Network (LAIN) is blogging about sex and aging.

Check out the posts so far:

The Dawning of a New Sexual Revolution

Adding Silver to the Rainbow

Ageist Attitude Clear in Dearth of Images of Elders and Sexuality

More Resources

Finding the Information You Need from the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging and Beyond, ASA Web Seminar scheduled for Thursday, September 13.

STDs & the Elderly, from about.com

5 Myths About Sex and Aging, Dr Pepper Schwartz, AARP

Growing Old with HIV, Washington Post

National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), NORC at the University of Chicago

By: Betsy Dorsett, Senior Coordinator for Website and Social Media at ASA