CHAPTER 7: Love, Intimacy, and Sexuality in Old Age

Menopause: cessation of the menstrual cycle. (Reference #8)

• Scholarly article about menopause can be found at:  http://www.menopauseinsight.com/news/coping-better-than-others.aspx

CHART ON STUDIES REGARDING SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND AGING

Reference # 7

I chose to display this diagram as it shows a variety of studies that all found that many couples remain sexually active at older ages, as well as the majority of healthy men and women are sexually active on a regular basis into their seventies and beyond. 

INTIMACY AND AGING VIDEO

Reference # 13

I chose this video because I found it really interesting that a news channel did a piece on the aspect of sex and aging. It helps to reiterate the importance of expression of affection and intimacy in aging. The need to feel loved, even in old age, is still there. This video also reiterates that sexual intimacy remains a need throughout older ages in people.

Widower's Syndrome: describes sexual dysfunction following a long period of abstinence due to a partner's illness and/or death. (Reference #8)

• Internet site regarding widower's syndrome: http://medspillsnews.com/2009/03/men-in-bed-widowers-syndrome/

Prostate cancer: the most common cancer among men age 65 and older (Reference #8)

• Internet site on prostate cancer:  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate

QUOTE

"The sun setting is no less beautiful than the sun rising." ~Paul Green

I chose this quote because I think that it helps to illustrate the concept that intimacy in old age is no less beautiful than that in younger ages. Not only do I think that it illustrates that, but it also illustrates all aspects of life are no less beautiful at younger ages than in older ages. To me, it relates to the idea that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that no beauty should be discounted in anyway, especially one that you find worthy to yourself, regardless of others' views.

Intimacy, Love, and Aging

E D S B M D A K X V H V L F H K Z S R X W V K Y P 
K C X T P T B F X Y T I L A U X E S W R I O M P E 
S C N F M S E W D H D G O Q I D Y P J R H O R Y R 
T Z I E J G N Z V Z A L S U S L A F O J S M E Y I 
Y H P O T C I U O H Y S L U D H O P I B C V T N M 
P P T X R O J N X W O W E L C W A R U S H T L C E 
F G O O G G P P Z F E M M F S U K E B U V L B P N 
Z G Y S M D A M W J Q P X A S J P R T K Y L B P O 
E O U U T V B S I A Y B J E J P M K J H G R H V P 
H B W A Z M F T M K Z B V Q H N X N M M S E K F A 
D H A S Q S E X U P H A R M A C E U T I C A L S U 
W K R X B B F N X J P M Y A L V J N A X X S A K S 
B T A M W N G F O R L T J S D O L A S N X U B W E 
U P P N H H Y D D P X Y X C T W B W W I I L H A V 
M S D G Z D C P H A A Y K D X E K O M A H Y S N Q 
R L U O U P A Z H Y K U D E J B P W M M J T J K B 
R U S T Z E M B I M E S S Z F D K Z X N F B S A H 
Z W Y L Y B I M Q C N N P E L D Y W O I R X H G L 
H Q B U H M T B L P H W M H Y A B I O E E C I T J 
F B G Q E G N V V F P O Q Z W M T C J U R X Z G S 
L K W H V H I M A D A H R D H C Y P Z J C E J B Z 
Z T O M S E V H Q U D H G D E Q L F K P M K A O K 
I L X R U I O C V U A Q R R X R T K U G U J I R O 
H O T F L A S H D V Y P E S K O A V W W H S T A P 
T U T E W G Y D V A U E W N X H N B C M W M T F X 

ERECTION (the swelling of the penis or clitoris in sexual excitement)
HOTFLASH (a sudden sensation of heat in the upper body cause by vasomotor instability as nerves over-respond to decreases in hormone level during menopause)
IMPOTENCE (the inability to have or maintain an erection)
INTIMACY (freedom to express and respond to human closeness)
ORGASM (climax of sexual excitement)
PERIMENOPAUSE (unpredictable menstrual cycles- up to 10 years before menopause)
POSTMENOPAUSE (when 12 months have passed without a menstrual cycle)
SEXUALITY (feelings of sexual desire, expression, and intimacy, not just sexual activity)
SEXUPHARMACEUTICALS (prescribed medications, such as Viagra, to treat men's erectile difficulities
VIROPAUSE (male menopause)

I chose this chapter because I feel as though the prevalence, as well as importance, of love, intimacy, and sexuality in old age is often greatly overlooked, or vastly downplayed by many people. This chapter helps to reiterate the fact that older people have sexual needs and desires just as younger people do. This chapter also helped to better educate me on some of the issues that can arise regarding sexuality as one ages. I felt as though these websites that are linked helped to create a better understanding of the topics they are on. The diagram helps to show the results of several different studies regarding sexual activity and aging. The video also helps portray the idea that older people still have sexual desires and needs as well. I especially liked the poem in that it helps to emphasize that beauty is more than just a young, initial vibrance.

CHAPTER 3: The Social Consequences of physical aging

Age-related macular degeneration: loss of vision in the center of the visual field caused by insufficient oxygen reaching the macula. (Reference #8)

• Scholarly article about AMD can be found at-   http://www.eyeclectic.ca/resources/pdf/Nutrition-and-Age-Related-Mac-Degen.pdf

Diagram on changes that occur throughout aging

(Reference #1)

I chose to display this diagram as I feel that it has a very comprehensive outlook on various physiological changes that influence the physical aging that occurs throughout life.

Hearing loss and aging

(Reference #12)

I chose this video as the development of hearing loss for me, and likely many others, is something that is common-knowledge that it occurs, but perhaps not so much the actual process of the development of the issue.

Age-related cataracts: clouding of the lens of the eye, reducing sight and sometimes leading to blindness, requires surgical extraction of the lens. (Reference #8)

•   Internet site on the formation of age-related cataracts:  http://eyes.emedtv.com/cataracts/age-related-cataract-formation.html

Dementia: diminished ability to remember, make accurate judgments, etc. (Reference #8)

•    Internet site on aging and dementia:    http://www.aging-parents-and-eldercare.com/Pages/Age_Dementia_Symptoms.html

Poem by Unknown Author

May you find .....

May you find serenity and tranquility
in a world you may not always understand.
May you not become too concerned with material matters,
but instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.
Find time in each day to see beauty and love in the world around you.
Realize that what you feel you lack in one regard
you may be more than compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present
may become one of your strengths in the future.
May you see your future
as one filled with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.
May you find enough inner strength
to determine your own worth by yourself,
and not be dependent
on another's judgment of your accomplishments.
(Reference #10)

I liked this poem because physical changes in aging, whether big or small, are inevitable to occur, but I think that it is important to take every change as an experience, and not dwell upon what you cannot do, but what you have done, what you can still do, and not what one views you as, but how you still value yourself.

if picture above does not show, the link to the crossword is: http://www.armoredpenguin.com/crossword/Data/2011.03/2319/23194732.162.pdf

I chose this chapter because the physical aspects of aging are something that I knew to be inevitable, but something that I did not know a great deal about. I knew that the typical changes can occur in loss of hearing to some degree, worsening of eye sight, and lessening in mobility, but I did not know any of the other common, or even uncommon, changes that can occur. I found this chapter to be very informational and learned a lot more about how eye site can deteriorate through things such as cataracts. I felt that the illustrations and videos included were valuable information on aspects of this process as well.