Good old sex
SBS television’s Insight program about sexuality and older people, screening next Tuesday night is recommended viewing for managers and carers alike working in the aged services sector.
By Keryn Curtis
Sexual identity and expression, body image issues, safe sex practices, online dating, virility concerns, erectile dysfunction, masturbation, same sex couples, double beds and sex workers in residential aged care…no topic was sacred at the recording of the SBS television discussion and debate program, Insight, this week.
The program, which will go to air next Tuesday at 8.30pm, features a wide ranging discussion about sex, sexuality and intimacy for older people, hosted by Gold Walkley award-winning journalist, Jenny Brockie. It includes input from a diverse range of guests and audience members, including people working in the aged care and services sector.
Three central guests in the program are Doreen Wendt-Weir, aged 84, who is the author of Sex in Your Seventies and Joy and George Kimpton who met online when they were in their seventies. Other guests include Kikis Eftimiou and his wife Froso who helped run a hostel for elderly Greek people in their community; and Elaine White, aged 80, a former educator on dementia care and sexuality with Alzheimer’s Australia NSW and author of Dementia and Sexuality.
Kathryne Turek, an education and continuous improvement manager with a large NSW aged care provider, responded to the invitation to be part of the studio discussion.
She says people who work in the aged services sector, including residential care, should watch the program because it provides an important prompt to consider what they are doing for people in their care to address their need for intimacy and sexual expression.
“It opens up a topic that we don’t often discuss unless it comes up as an issue for residents. It makes you think, what are we doing for our residents about intimacy?
“We don’t systematically address sexual needs. We look at it resident by resident and individual by individual. But sexuality is part of everyone and part of holistic care,” said Ms Turek.
“One of the things I found interesting in the show was the discussion around the difference between intimacy and intercourse. For some people intercourse was really important while others were more interested in intimacy. There’s a constant return to the need for intimacy and touch and the pleasure in waking up next to someone.”
Lifting the lid
Program producer, Fanou Filali said she was looking forward to seeing the program herself.
“It was a really, warm, delightful and funny discussion; very candid and open.
“I think it lifted the lid on a big taboo. And it was a real revelation for many – even for people who were part of the audience. People said it changed the way they looked at older people,” Ms Filali said.
The one hour program will be broadcast on Tuesday 19 March at 8:30pm on SBS ONE. It will be repeated twice on Wednesday 20 March – at 1:00pm on SBS ONE and again at 7:30pm on SBS TWO. Details about the program and the guests can be found on the Insight program website.
I have worked in the Aged Care Industry for over 10 years, and have witnessed the elderly, not often sadly, but occasionally form friendships and/or intimate relationships. These have given the elderly person something that as a care giver i was unable to match. The elderly who formed these relationships became very content, relaxed and felt good about themselves, which in turn reduced their need for attention,or isolation, which in turn made our job easier. Just because they are elderly doesn’t mean they stop having feelings.
I thoroughly enjoyed my participation in the show as a psychologist working with the elderly. In my experience, older adults who have barriers to a healthy sexual life (medical conditions; death of partner; issues of the lack of privacy in their environment)are depressed. It’s a shame this article hasn’t touched on the issue, however, it will be discussed on the show.