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By Dan Nonte, University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-4314
Posted 11-3-09
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Because sex doesn’t end when social security starts, graduate students in a counseling course at UNCG want to help older adults talk candidly about this taboo topic.
As part of their sexuality counseling course, master’s students in the Department of Counseling and Educational Development have developed a public awareness campaign to promote healthy and safe sexual relationships among older adults, an under-addressed topic of growing importance.
The primary vehicle for this campaign is a brochure filled with information and advice – “Still Great at 68 … and Beyond: Aging and Sexual Health.” Designed to promote discussion, the brochure is based on research suggesting sexual health is a significant component of wellness for older adults.
It touches on sexuality in assisted living facilities, sexually transmitted diseases, drugs for erectile dysfunction and – in a section titled I Don’t Bend That Way Anymore – coping with physical limitations. Students in the course hope their handiwork will serve as a resource for the community and start conversations about the importance of sexual health throughout the lifespan.
“It’s a misconception that sex becomes less important as you age,” says class member Megan Smell. “In fact, sexual satisfaction at an older age is still a priority, and few resources address this need. Therefore, we are bridging the gap between the classroom and the community to provide a resource for this population.”
Recent research published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that 67 percent of men and 39.5 percent of women age 65-74 reported engaging in sexual activity in the previous year, and 65 percent of those having sex reported doing so at least twice a month.
CED 691: Sexuality Counseling is taught by Dr. Christine Murray, LMFT, LPC.