10 Ageing and the LGBTI+ community: a case study of Australian care policy
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Jane Youell
Abstract
Sexuality and intimacy have largely been seen as a domain of the young and attractive in contemporary society (White, 2011). Assumptions persist that the over-65s should be, or are, sexually retired (Bauer et al, 2007). Ageing has traditionally been associated with decline, frailty, unattractiveness, disability and illness, and wrinkly and withered bodies (through a western cultural lens, at least), so it is easy to dispel any notion that older people would enjoy a full sexual life, and by dispelling it we fail to support and encourage it. When adding to this the sense of distaste, disgust and taboo that older age sex seems to elicit, it is easy to see why there is a dearth of research, policy and good (pro-sex) practice (Bouman et al, 2006). Increasingly, the benefits of a full sexual and intimate life are being recognised across the lifespan, although research seems to focus mostly on ageing and heterosexual sex (Sinković and Towler, 2019).
For those who are older and identify as LGBTI+, there is significantly less evidence of good practice, and greater invisibility, particularly around supporting sexuality and intimacy (McGovern, 2014; Sinković and Towler, 2019). To ignore the importance of sexuality, intimacy and relational needs does older people, especially those already marginalised, a great disservice. The physical, psychological, social and emotional benefits of intimate relationships arguably result in greater pleasure and liberation with age (Rowntree, 2014). Sex, intimacy and relational needs are fundamental to wellbeing, and with the advent of the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) guidance, health and social care services will be required to show evidence of how they support relationships and sexuality within their services (CQC, 2019), including the LGBTI+ community.
Abstract
Sexuality and intimacy have largely been seen as a domain of the young and attractive in contemporary society (White, 2011). Assumptions persist that the over-65s should be, or are, sexually retired (Bauer et al, 2007). Ageing has traditionally been associated with decline, frailty, unattractiveness, disability and illness, and wrinkly and withered bodies (through a western cultural lens, at least), so it is easy to dispel any notion that older people would enjoy a full sexual life, and by dispelling it we fail to support and encourage it. When adding to this the sense of distaste, disgust and taboo that older age sex seems to elicit, it is easy to see why there is a dearth of research, policy and good (pro-sex) practice (Bouman et al, 2006). Increasingly, the benefits of a full sexual and intimate life are being recognised across the lifespan, although research seems to focus mostly on ageing and heterosexual sex (Sinković and Towler, 2019).
For those who are older and identify as LGBTI+, there is significantly less evidence of good practice, and greater invisibility, particularly around supporting sexuality and intimacy (McGovern, 2014; Sinković and Towler, 2019). To ignore the importance of sexuality, intimacy and relational needs does older people, especially those already marginalised, a great disservice. The physical, psychological, social and emotional benefits of intimate relationships arguably result in greater pleasure and liberation with age (Rowntree, 2014). Sex, intimacy and relational needs are fundamental to wellbeing, and with the advent of the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) guidance, health and social care services will be required to show evidence of how they support relationships and sexuality within their services (CQC, 2019), including the LGBTI+ community.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- Notes on editors and contributors ix
- Series editors’ introduction xiii
- Foreword xxv
- Introduction to volume two: themes, issues and chapter synopses 1
- Consent and sexual literacy for older people 17
- ‘At YOUR age???!!!’: the constraints of ageist erotophobia on older people’s sexual and intimate relationships 35
- The aesthetic(s) of eroticism in later life 53
- Menopause and the ‘menoboom’: how older women are desexualised by culture 77
- Ageing, physical disability and desexualisation 95
- Ageing, intellectual disability and desexualisation 117
- Dancing in- or out-of-step? Sexual and intimate relationships among heterosexual couples living with Alzheimer’s disease 135
- Older people living in long-term care: no place for old sex? 153
- Ageing and the LGBTI+ community: a case study of Australian care policy 171
- The role of professionals and service providers in supporting sexuality and intimacy in later life: theoretical and practice perspectives 191
- Final reflections: themes and issues arising from the volume on desexualisation in later life 211
- Index 221
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- Notes on editors and contributors ix
- Series editors’ introduction xiii
- Foreword xxv
- Introduction to volume two: themes, issues and chapter synopses 1
- Consent and sexual literacy for older people 17
- ‘At YOUR age???!!!’: the constraints of ageist erotophobia on older people’s sexual and intimate relationships 35
- The aesthetic(s) of eroticism in later life 53
- Menopause and the ‘menoboom’: how older women are desexualised by culture 77
- Ageing, physical disability and desexualisation 95
- Ageing, intellectual disability and desexualisation 117
- Dancing in- or out-of-step? Sexual and intimate relationships among heterosexual couples living with Alzheimer’s disease 135
- Older people living in long-term care: no place for old sex? 153
- Ageing and the LGBTI+ community: a case study of Australian care policy 171
- The role of professionals and service providers in supporting sexuality and intimacy in later life: theoretical and practice perspectives 191
- Final reflections: themes and issues arising from the volume on desexualisation in later life 211
- Index 221
