Sexuality in older age

This chapter examines the research evidence to present key issues in the sexuality and ageing field. The chapter utilizes a sexual rights framework to contextualize sexuality and ageing for psychiatry and psychiatric practice. It discusses sexual activity in middle and later life and the sexual difficulties that older adults can experience. It explores sexual risk-taking in older cohorts and the current global trend of increased diagnoses of STIs in older adults. It also discusses the highly neglected areas of sexual violence, sexual consent, and partner communication in older adults. The chapter ends with a focus on the barriers to sexual communication between health professionals and older patients, and provides guidance and tips—specifically the ‘Three Ps’ approach: Privacy, Permission, and Practice—for clinicians to use to improve sexual communication with patients.