Sexuality

Despite the many changes in sexual attitudes and behavior in Western societies over the last few decades, myths and misinformation abound when it comes to the sexuality of older adults. Aging individuals who express interest in or enjoy sex are portrayed frequently with humor or disdain in the media, and often younger persons find it difficult to conceive of or accept sexuality as normal behavior spanning the entire life course. Yet sex can play an important part in the lives of older adults, and many individuals remain sexually active into their eighties and nineties (Schiavi and Rehman).