Ch. 7 Weekly Blog

Intimacy and Sexuality in old age are described within chapter seven as human needs that must be met  and that can have both positive and negative effects on the individuals overall health. Both intimacy and sexuality  apply to any individual regardless of age but, many times the older an individual faces challenges or hardships when seeking out these types of relationships in comparison to younger adults, especially if they are not currently in a intimate or sexual relationship. Marital status, economic status, cultural factors, and individual experience can all play an important role in a persons ability to not only seek out relationships, but also how they might be perceived when doing so. Many stereotypes and assumptions that we hear over our lifespan about the elderly's intimate and sexual needs overcome and cloud the judgement of  way an elderly person chooses or does not choose to seek out these relationships. The text describes a woman who becomes a widow at old age and chooses to remarry is much more likely to be widely accepted among her family and friend because they don't want to see they woman lonely and alone than an elderly divorced woman to remarry or engage in intimate or sexual relationships. This chapter was kind of interesting because my father passed away two years ago and I recently found myself wanting my mother to have someone in her life that she can be close to but, when I talk with her about it she always say: "No your dad's family would hate me and I never want to experience loosing another spouse again." but, as time goes by I think she is beginning to get through the grief and not really become lonely but wish she had someone to spend time with and find her own identity as well as address her intimate and sexual needs. I never thought I would be having this conversation with anyone but, the more I read and learn to consider each person as a human being with equal needs, the more I feel more accepting, and want to offer support. I think my personal experiences in combination with the things I am learning in class with help guide me in my future as a social worker.

Reference:
Hillier, S.M. and Barrow, G.M. (2007). Aging, the individual and society. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.