ABSTRACT
Why does sexuality matter in discussions of older people? Focusing here on heterosexuality, we argue that it matters because social interconnection involves sexuality in the form of embodied intimacies. It matters because a failure to include sexuality in discussions of social interconnection has some highly problematic consequences. The link between sexual health and well-being is now well established. The Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviours, which involved a large sample of men and women 1 aged 40–80 from 29 countries, found that over three quarters of participants agreed that ‘satisfactory sex’ was essential to maintenance of relationships and was associated with an overall sense of health and well-being (see for example, Laumann et al. 2005). A wide range of studies reiterate that sexual expression is by no means an optional extra but appears to be ‘an essential aspect of our lives’ (Barrett, 2011 p. 32; see also Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 2003) that is predictive of a heightened quality of life (Weeks, 2002). Thus attention is needed to desire for sexual intimacy amongst older people, as well as disabled people, and many others (Seymour and Lupton, 2004). As Barrett (2011) notes:
[t]here is a significant body of evidence linking sexual health to emotional wellbeing of older people. Despite this, few health or human service organisations have programs to promote the sexual health of older clients.
(p. 31)