Stereotypes Of The Elderly

At what age do human beings become asexual? Is there a magic number for when this happens? Is it 65, according to the World Health Organization 65 is the globally accepted age of persons referred to as “elderly.” Are 65-year-old persons asexual and no longer able to experience desire or need to participate in sexual behavior? Of course not, however there is a belief that elderly are asexual. Luckily there are researchers to disprove this belief. The data collected in the late 1940s by Albert Kinsey and his team as well as in the 1960s by Masters and Johnson shows that persons of all ages are participating in sexual activity, that there does not appear to be a magic cut-off date. So why is there a public perception that elderly persons are

For the first time, the older generation will outnumber those under 18. (“U.S. Census Bureau Projections Show a Slower Growing, Older, More Diverse Nation a Half Century from Now”, 2012). A portion of this growth is in part to the baby boomers, persons born between 1946 - 1964, which were the driving force behind the sexual revolution in the 1960s. (Connolly, Marie-Therese et al., 2012). The sexual revolution brought education to an ignorant society about sex and sexuality, people were openly talking about sex, women had birth control and a voice in what happened to their bodies, and yet now in the 2000s the baby boomers will once again face a society that, because of ignorance or misplaced beliefs, view older individuals as asexual, incapable of making decisions concerning relationships and sometimes will experience shaming for being open about sexuality. People have become educated in so many ways on longevity and living healthier lives through diet and exercise so it is not surprising that the population of older persons will experience such a growth. Studies have shown a direct connection between healthy diet and exercise and a continued healthy sex life. (Connolly, Marie-Therese et al., 2012). This is very good news for the projected 92 million elderly persons. Further, there is a link to overall health and quality of life with individuals who

The majority of research on aging and sexual behavior has been focused on biomedical issues such as erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, lack of desire, and pain during intercourse and not as much on sexual behaviors or intimate relationships of older adults. This biomedical focus has fostered the public’s perception of aging and sexual function as that of physical decline, that sexual function is compromised and that there is less satisfaction overall. With the incidents of erectile dysfunction occurring in 50 - 100% of males over 70, it is not surprising that the primary focus of research is biomedical. (Marchese, Katherine, 2017). Sexual dysfunction is not caused by aging in general but can be linked to poor lifestyle resulting in poor health. In some cases, this can be rectified by improving a person’s health through behavioral and lifestyle changes to include better diet and exercise. Changes to the body that result in a decline in health correspond with a reduction in sexual behavior by both men and women. (Lindau, Stacy Tessler et al., 2007). Lack of sexual behavior in a partnership can be caused by one partner being ill and no longer able to participate in sexual activities in their relationship. Issues such as cardiac disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, and certain medications can affect sexual behavior. (Marchese, Katherine, 2017). Consequently, individuals who live an active lifestyle and