The sexuality of old people

For many people, sexuality in old age remains a taboo subject full of false beliefs and myths.

Aging involves a number of biological and physiological changes, both in men as in women, which are also visible on sexuality. However, these changes do not mean that old age is linked to disease. Talking about sex in old age is an arduous task for being a little-known issue, and in many cases, abused by society. It is an issue that many consider taboo, including the elderly themselves and health professionals. In most cases preferred not to talk about, a fact that causes the appearance of false beliefs and myths related to sexuality in old age. On the other hand, this silence in the elderly produces feelings of guilt and shame over her sexual desire on the grounds that what is happening is not "normal." Sexuality of the elderly continues to be an unknown and ill-treated by society. This fact, however, does not mean that the geriatric population does not engage in sex. As discussed previously, sexuality only disappear with the death and not only involves genitalia and even less penetration. However, most available evidence calculations focus on coital frequency and sexual diseases such as erectile dysfunction, dyspareunia, vaginal dryness, etc. The studies focused on care for the sexual needs of the elderly population and the meaning that the elderly and general population attributable to sex in old age are practically non-existent. In order to provide comprehensive nursing care is especially important to know the reality of sexuality in the elderly from the narrative of the elderly themselves.