As nurses, we are required to be cautious, especially with the aging population. While in most cases, most of our judgment comes from evidence and scientific reasoning, at times, we let myths and misconceptions mislead us. Some of behaviors may be unintentional, but it negatively affects the output of a nursing professional. One of the popular myths is that older people are not interested in sex and intimacy. The speech, therefore, critically evaluates the myth with the help of the articles " Sex, The Aging Immune System, And Chronic Disease " and " Sexuality: Desire, activity, and intimacy in the elderly."
Summary, Research Methods, and Findings
Article 1: Sexuality: Desire, Activity, and Intimacy in the Elderly
The article was published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, which showed the existence of sexual desire, activity, and function in individuals above 50 years. The research took 60 individuals above the age of 50 years from the various Outpatient Departments of a Mumbai teaching municipal hospital (Kalra, Subramanyam, & Pinto, 2011). After taking the individuals’ consent, their information about sexual functions was obtained through questionnaires and the data analyzed through the v15 statistical package for social sciences. Some of the questions asked in the questionnaire included their overall perception of sex, their frequency of sexual activity, as well as their sexual health conditions. The researchers found out that 72% of individuals above 50 years were sexually active while those above 60 years were 57%. (Kalra, Subramanyam, & Pinto, 2011) In addition, the research also revealed significant disparities concerning sexual activity in health, gender, and educational status. The study also revealed and confirmed the existence of misconceptions about sex among the older population.
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Article 2: Sex, The Aging Immune System, And Chronic Disease
The article "Sex and Aging" by ( Bupp, 2015) surveyed 1600 individuals to counter stereotypes about sex among older individuals. Additionally, the author had a one-on-one interview with a 76-year-old author called Connie Goldman, who was disgusted by the stereotypes about older adults not having sex. Out of the 1600 people that the authors surveyed, only 4% agreed that sex was only for younger people ( Bupp, 2015) . According to the article, sex strengthens intimate relationships, particularly among older individuals. However, the article does agree that with age, the sexual activity is different, at least that is what Connie Goldman confessed to the authors.
Evaluating the Myth's Accuracy
It can be argued that the myth about older people losing interest in sex or intimacy is untrue, based on the findings of the research in two articles. In "Sexuality: Desire, activity, and intimacy in the elderly," 72% of individuals above 50 years and 57% of those above 60 years are sexually active. Moreover, the authors of the articles established other factors that can interfere with sexual activity among the elderly like chronic illnesses and gender. Although there was a significant decrease in the number of sexually active adults from the ages of 50 to 60, there is no proven theory that showed a lack of sexual desire (Kalra, Subramanyam, & Pinto, 2011). The article thus points to sexual disinterest in physical, health, and gender but not age. In the same way, " Sex, The Aging Immune System, And Chronic Disease " also refutes the claim while stating the obstacle of sexual desire hormones. According to the author, men's testosterone and women's estrogen reduce. Although such hormonal changes cause a significant drop in sexual desire and drive, the activity is not entirely erased. As Connie Goldman explained, sex at that particular age feels different but is not non-existent ( Bupp, 2015) . In as much as the bodies may not be as energetic as they used to be, they still have needs and desires to be fulfilled, though not as frequently. As Goldman pointed out, the body changes due to age, but the feelings, desires, and emotions remain intact. After all, 96% of the 1600 individuals surveyed agreed that sexual activity is not restricted to younger individuals ( Bupp, 2015) . Therefore, to some extent, the myth may hold some truth, but not to all older individuals.
Analyzing Applications of the Research to Change Social Perception
The article " Sex, The Aging Immune System, And Chronic Disease " acts as an eye-opener to sexual activity for older individuals. Apart from clearing the misconceptions about sex, the interview gives a first-hand experience about the sexual life of an older individual. For this reason, it helps change the societal view of sex and older individuals. What is more, " Sex, The Aging Immune System, And Chronic Disease " allows researchers to create policies that address the other reasons for sexual inactivity. In doing so, the stigma associated with sexual inability and incapacity is slowly erased since research will breed solutions for older people to regain their sexual activity (Merghati-Khoei, Pirak, Yazdkhasti, & Rezasoltani, 2016). The results of the study can hence be shared with the staff in the nursing home to help sensitize them towards amicably dealing with such issues. The results of "Sexuality: Desire, activity, and intimacy in the elderly" also assist individuals in changing their thoughts about older people and sex. By vividly talking about causes of sexual failure, the authors bust the myth and also sensitize individuals about such issues. Using individuals from medical records proves that these are issues affecting the older population of people around us. Therefore, the authors contribute significantly to the sensitization of the community about issues surrounding sexual health. As nursing professionals, such findings will be crucial when an individual or groups of individuals approach us with such issues. In the future, therefore, addressing the sexual health issues in the nursing home will be easier.
References
Bupp, M. R. G. (2015). Sex, The Aging Immune System, And Chronic Disease. Cellular Immunology , 294 (2), 102-110.
Kalra, G., Subramanyam, A., & Pinto, C. (2011). Sexuality: Desire, Activity and Intimacy in The Elderly. Indian Journal of Psychiatry , 53 (4), 300.
Merghati-Khoei, E., Pirak, A., Yazdkhasti, M., & Rezasoltani, P. (2016). Sexuality and Elderly with Chronic Diseases: A Review of The Existing Literature. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences: The Official Journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , 21 .
