Today we had a certified sex therapist come and speak to our class about aging and sexual health in older adults. I think that this was a great opportunity for our class to learn about things we can do to help our older clients stay sexually involved with their partners, and learn the truth about a lot of myths and beliefs that society has about sex. This topic is very relevant to the OT profession because sex is considered an ADL and many people especially after an injury, disability, or in the elderly population face difficulties with this. One key takeaway point that I learned from this lecture today is that there is no one way to define sex, sex can be very different from person to person. Helping the person or couple find a way that works uniquely for them is the key to helping them stay happy in their sex life. Almost all sexual dysfunction problems can have a solution you just have to be willing to communicate to someone, so it's really important that as an OT, you don't feel ashamed or embarrassed for bringing up the topic. Most of the time, we will be the only people to bring it up, so making sure that you provide a safe, non judgmental, and comfortable environment for them to have a discussion with you about it is a great way to start. Another takeaway I got from this lecture was learning about the physical issues/ common diagnoses that can actually cause sexual dysfunction. For example, a lifetime of high blood pressure can actually cause arteries to narrow and harden which makes it more difficult for to feel aroused or an inability to obtain an erection in men. Also, a lot of medications can interfere with libido, so it is important to notice what kind of medications/ diagnoses a person has and make sure sure you acknowledge the individuals sexual health when doing an evaluation. Overall, I really enjoyed todays guest lecture. It was a wonderful opportunity for our class to embrace something that may be uncomfortable for people, but has the potential to really impact someones quality of life if we learn to address it appropriately.
Intervention 1:
Have a group educational session for at risk teenagers on safe sexual habits. Provide education about community resources where you can go to get tested for STDs or to get free protection/pregnancy tests, encourage getting regular dr. exams if you are sexually active, educate about common symptoms of STDs.
Intervention 2:
You have a client who has RA and tells you that they are experiencing joint pain during intercourse. Discuss pain management strategies such as taking a warm shower or bath before intercourse, keeping a heating pad on the bed, or helping the couple schedule intimate time during times when the client feels less fatigued.
Intervention 1:
Have a group educational session for at risk teenagers on safe sexual habits. Provide education about community resources where you can go to get tested for STDs or to get free protection/pregnancy tests, encourage getting regular dr. exams if you are sexually active, educate about common symptoms of STDs.
Intervention 2:
You have a client who has RA and tells you that they are experiencing joint pain during intercourse. Discuss pain management strategies such as taking a warm shower or bath before intercourse, keeping a heating pad on the bed, or helping the couple schedule intimate time during times when the client feels less fatigued.
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