Let’s Talk About Sex and Seniors

Topic: Let’s Talk about Sex…and Seniors.

Cate Griffiths

Senior services providers sometimes find themselves with a tricky problem when their clients or residents have sexual relationships with each other. Conflict can erupt because of sexual relationships between seniors and it can be challenging to know how to start the conversation to help remedy the situation. But there’s hope! I can give you tips and tools to initiate those difficult conversations and move these interpersonal conflicts to resolution. Sexual activity among seniors can also provoke a need for policy changes, additional services, life-skills and health education for senior clients, and a host of other decisions that services providers need to make.
Some of the sex-related issues that can cause problems include:

• Sexual harassment and/or sexual abuse
• Dating violence
• Physical, mental and emotional health impacts of new sexual relationships among seniors
• Difficult conversations relating to sexual activity

Cate Griffiths is Executive Director of RECOURSE Mediation Services, Sonoma County’s non-profit conflict resolution and mediation organization.

Video Recorded February 20, 2013