Week 9 Flashcards
Def: Ability to be intimate with another person in a mutually satisfying manner
Sexuality!
What is the usual goal of sexuality in younger people vs. in older adulthood?
For younger people, INTERCOURSE is goal.
For older adults, more about relationships, closeness, intimacy
T/F: Married couples tend to have less intercourse than unmarried couples
FALSE. Married couples tend to have MORE intercourse than unmarried couples.
How does culture play a role in sexuality for older adults?
Beliefs, religion, faith, how conservative/liberal one is
How does gender play a role in sexuality for OA?
- For greatest generation, extreme gender roles for adults, but now more fluid roles
- Gender plays role in what types of work they’re doing, what types of roles at home
When working with clients, should we delve into sexuality?
DUH
How does sexuality fit into the OTPF scope?
- Sex is an ADL
- Sex is a social activity
- Activity that results in sexual satisfaction and/or meet relational or reproductive needs (not just about intercourse)
- About intimacy and engaging in desired sexual activity
- Many times, no expert on sex in staff team you’re working with
What are three barriers to sexual expression in OAs?
- Often viewed as asexual in society, so no one wants to discuss
- Physiological changes to the body (e.g., mental illness, chronic disease)
- Attitudes e.g., in U.S., taboo to talk about old people having sex
Who is more likely to talk about sexual relations: men or women?
Men. Almost 40% older men are willing to talk about vs. 22% of women
T/F: generally, older adults feel more comfortable discussing sex with providers who are much younger than them.
False. older adults don’t feel comfortable talking about sex with someone who looks like their child…
Women are more likely to talk with female or male providers?
Women are more likely to talk with female providers about sexual relations. Unfortunately, they usually end up having male providers. This is an opportunity for OT as majority are female!
Providers don’t generally think about what prominent issue related to sexual relations in OA?
HIV
How can we as OTs overcome barriers to providing a safe space for sexual expression for OAs?
- Provide area for privacy
- Make a safe space for older adults to socialize and discuss
- Educate staff and family about OAs sexuality needs
- Body image, difficulties feeling attractive–can do nails/hair with them, help make them feel pretty
How can we as OTs overcome barriers to sexual expression for OAs with dementia ?
- Talk with family about the importance of human touch
- Give someone a soft stuffed animal to care for
Which of the following is not a normal physiological change in men:
- Decreased testosterone
- Decreased sperm production
- Amount and consistency changes in seminal ejaculate
- Decreased ejaculation force
- Decreased likelihood of premature ejaculation
- Decreased frequency of ejaculation with decreased refractory period
- Possible increase in prostate size
- Increased duration to stimulate sexual excitement
- Increased lasting erection
Decreased refractory period. Normal aging often includes an INCREASED refractory period (time it takes before you can ejaculate again)
Time it takes to recover after ejaculation before you can ejaculation again. This is…
Refractory period. This period often increases for OA males, which may not be good for partner–if increased refractory period, decreased vaginal secretions may lead to dyspareunia=painful sex
How can we help older men who are experiencing normal physiological changes that affect sexual relations?
We can try to normalize changes. Men may feel inadequate if they can’t achieve ejaculation, especially after prostate surgery. We can help meet them where they’re at . Tell them what they’re going through is normal and what we can do with where they’re at
Which of the following is not a normal physiological change in women as they age ?
- Menopause
- Decreased estrogen and progesterone
- external genitalia shrinkage
- decreased pubic hair growth
- vaginal wall shrinkage and thinning
- increased vaginal secretions
- increased duration to stimulate sexual excitement and lubrication
Increased vaginal secretions. Normal change is DECREASED vaginal secretions.
What self-assessment assess one’s knowledge and attitudes regarding OAs and sexual activity?
The Aging Sexual Knowledge and Attitudes Scale (ASKAS) (White, 1982). It has lots of info on erectile dysfunction. A higher score means more positive attitudes (most are like this)
T/F: Overall, there is increased diversity and acceptability in families
TRUE!
T/F: In general, family sizes have increased over time
FALSE. We now have smaller families now, for the most part.
How has the structure of families changed with time?
- Not necessarily nuclear family
- Broader definition of family
- Later marriages, takes longer to have children
- Smaller families now
- Blended families e.g., Brady bunch
T/F: Kin relationships are relatively stable across life
True. If you have problems with each other now, you will probably always have them. Hard to change relationships.
What are support exchanges?
Giving and receiving that happens in intergenerational families.
How are support exchanges characterized?
- Support exchanges (giving and receiving in intergenerational families) is complex
- We tend to live farther away from family now, so it’s harder to support them (opportunity for social media)
- Utilize family that is available, however they’re available (How can extended family support OAs from a distance?)
- Family can play a role in chronic disease management for OA (influence how OA may manage disease; if knowledgable about condition, can give suggestions; can also be poor influence)
How has the distance between OA and their families changed?
We now tend to live farther apart from each other now, so hard to support. But can bridge the gap via social media!
How dos health play a role in an OA’s social network?
-OAs that have better health report more social network and support from friends. So, better self-rated health, more support from friends, key for isolation
How can family play a role in chronic disease management for OAs?
- Influence how OA may manage disease
- If knowledgable about condition, can provide suggestions
- Can also be poor influence
In U.S., how do expectations for family co-residency differ for whites vs. African American families
In African American families in the U.S., stronger expectation for co-residency compared to whites. Their social support network is resilient
How do Latino families view family?
Latino families hold family central