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Improving the sexual lives of older Australians: Perspectives from a qualitative study
Author(s) -
Fileborn Bianca,
Lyons Anthony,
Hinchliff Sharron,
Brown Graham,
Heywood Wendy,
Dow Briony,
Malta Sue,
Minichiello Victor
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/ajag.12405
Subject(s) - human sexuality , qualitative research , diversity (politics) , aged care , quality of life (healthcare) , reproductive health , older people , psychology , sexual life , gerontology , health care , medicine , gender studies , nursing , sociology , population , political science , social science , environmental health , gynecology , anthropology , law
Objective To examine older Australian's perspectives on how their sexual lives can best be supported and/or improved. Methods Fifty‐three, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with Australian men ( n = 30) and women (n = 23) aged 60 and over . Results Participants identified a range of key issues and areas where their sexual lives could be further supported or improved upon, including normalising the occurrence of sex and sexual desire in later life; increasing and improving on the quality of, cultural representations of older adults; introducing policy, educational and practice‐based changes in age care facilities to support the consensual sexual expression of residents; and ensuring that sexual health campaigns and education are inclusive of older people. Conclusion Our findings present clear implications for further developing sexuality education and public health campaigns, training and education of health‐care professionals, and generating social and cultural change pertaining to the acceptability of the diversity of sexual expression in later life.