Sexuality is a broad term that encompasses sexual identity, activity, attitude towards sex, intimacy, partnership, and pleasure.

In this podcast, we cover the basics of sexual function and the effects of aging, medical comorbidities, and mental help on sexuality.

We discuss sexual health in long-term care settings

and in older adults with cognitive disorders and suggest an approach to commonly encountered

sexual health issues. Welcome to the Carlet Psychiatry podcast.

This is another episode from the geriatric psychiatry team.

I'm Neha Jane, an associate professor of psychiatry, medical director for the mood and anxiety disorders program,

and associate program director for the geriatric psychiatry fellowship at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, Connecticut.

In today's podcast, I'm joined by two of my colleagues.

I'm Stephanie Collier, the editor-in-chief of the Carlott Geriatric Psychiatry Report.

And I'm Dr. Rahan Aziz, an associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at Hackensack

Meridian School of Medicine. I'm also the associate

program director for geriatric psychiatry and general psychiatry at Jersey Shore University

Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey. Let's begin our discussion with the topic Dr. Jane

started out with. What are your thoughts about how sexual function and sexuality intersect in older adults?

Yes, I think first it's just important to acknowledge that older adults are sexually active

because discussions about sexual issues are often avoided in health care settings.

You know, there is often discomfort on part of the patient or the clinician, a lack of knowledge.

I mean, how much training do you remember in med school and residency about sexual health, right?

Or a fear of embarrassment or just plain ageist beliefs.

However, a fulfilling sex life is a crucial aspect

of quality of life for many seniors. That makes a lot of sense. The question is, how do we bring

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