PROMOTING THE SEXUAL HEALTH OF GERIATRIC-PATIENTS

This article presents 10 concepts geriatric rehabilitation specialists should understand in order to address quality of life issues related to the sexuality of their patients. These concepts are: change is cons tant; demographics affect sexual opportunities; societal attitudes and the attitudes of health care workers influence patient sexual behavio rs; age-related changes in sexual function are normal; sexual fitness does not mean ''use it or lose it''; sexual enhancement is possible at any age; sexual adaptations can be made to accommodate illness or inj uries; nursing and retirement homes present special problems and oppor tunities; rehabilitation specialists should develop a comfortable clim ate in which patients can discuss sexual issues; and resources are ava ilable.