Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Among The Elderly

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Course: SOC200
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Final Essay
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among the elderly
While younger adults are most likely to be diagnosed with the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), seniors are increasingly at a high risk and yet this has not received much attention. People can get infected with the STDs without developing symptoms and suffer negative health consequences. Americans are increasingly living longer and remain sexually active, and combined with the lack of ‘safe sex talk’ it is more challenging to bring up the issue. Even as divorce rates have increased over time, sex talks are confined within the institution of marriage.
While it is surprising that older people living in nursing homes and other residential settings contract sexually transmitted diseases and infections the problem is not discussed openly. Older people living close to those of the same age are likely to engage in sexual activities in an environment when there is no fear of pregnancy. The demographics of those in residential settings are also skewed with women outnumbering women, yet the elderly are isolated and desire physical and emotional intimacy. There is also no immediate urgency in addressing STDs among the elderly as the issue is not prioritized by health practitioners or policy makers.
Dementia/ Alzheimer’s
Older people are more at risk of dementia including Alzheimer’s. Dementia is characterized by memory loss, deterioration in performing daily activities, thinking and behavior. Caring for those with dementia is difficult since there are dependent on care gives because of cognitive impairment, and this takes an emotional toll on carers and increase health care costs
The husband (Grant) realizes that his wife with dementia (Fiona) has gotten closer to a male resident at the nursing home and she had forgot...