Sexuality and the Chronically Ill Older Adult: A Social Justice Issue - Book Report/Review Example

People should be able to show affection and receive love in this form. Health is also a critical element to our lives and we need both to be fully human. This article discusses the relationship between aging and sexuality and describes the myths that perpetuate anxiety among people. The fact that being youthful is associated with sexuality, deters the elderly from expressing their sexuality and creates the stereotype that the elderly is frail and sexless. Society fails the elderly in two ways.

Firstly, the stigma for the elderly is that they have an unimportant sex life is inaccurate. Secondly, society devalues feelings towards sexuality that the elderly have. This causes the elderly to have an invisible sexuality. This article states that the oppression that the elderly receive, is getting some attention. In fact, the United Nations General Assembly created the International Year of Older Persons (1999) where healthy aging was recognized and granted support. In the Western Hemisphere, older adults and their sexuality is beginning to be more appreciated.

Nurses are at the frontlines of this movement. Nurses are able to bring healthy advice to their sexual concerns and they can also teach and counsel in this area. Nurses can bring attention the issues by researching these issues and also by developing new policies to bring their sexuality to a more open place that is not so hidden. This will hopefully bring about new perspectives and change things for the elderly in this sensitive area. In turn, this would promote their quality of life. This article will discuss the balance between visibility and invisibility for the chronically ill adult and create changes for them from a societal perspective.

Education, practice, research, and policy development will have new strategies in place so that the elderly can have a place in society once again in this area. Nurses will also promote social justice allowing their sexuality to be more acceptable. The definition for sexuality in this article is the most natural and basic aspect to a person's existence as a human being. It raises self esteem if it is a healthy sexuality. It adds quality to the biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual aspects of a person.

Sexuality adds quality to our lives and the chronically ill should have that opportunity to express that for themselves. The world Health Organization defines sexuality as "the integration of the somatic, emotional, intellectual, and social aspects of our sexual being. This should be positive and enhance our ability to love. Sexuality does not necessarily mean being socially active, it refers to being healthy psychologically and socially as well. It should allow us to express loyalty, passion, affection, and demonstrate esteem to others.

It should remain clear that sexuality can still be exciting for those who are disabled or chronically ill. Sexuality should have a holistic approach for all people including the elderly. The article goes on to mention that older people are invisible especially women who are considered asexual if they are not attractive and the chronically ill and disabled. The article describes three reasons why sexuality is not something that health care professionals want to deal with when it comes to involve the elderly and chronically ill.

Firstly, Health Care Professionals usually do not talk about this area at work. Also, chronic illness is associated with asexuality, and finally, sexuality issues are considered disease based and