A TV program will soon go to air covering sex, sexuality and intimacy for older people.

Sexual identity and expression, body image issues, safe sex practices, online dating, virility concerns, erectile dysfunction, masturbation, same sex couples, double beds and sex workers in residential aged care. These subjects and more to be covered in the Australian SBS television discussion and debate program, Insight, on Tuesday March 19th.

Elderly Australians have a comparatively low knowledge of safe sex practices. They grew up at a time when the norm was to marry their first sexual partner. They never had sex education in school. Being past their reproductive years, many aren’t insisting on condom use. As a result, rates of sexually transmitted infections amongst older Australians are rising faster than in any other age group.

There’s also the question of how to manage sexual activity in nursing homes. Many aren’t providing double beds. And some nursing staff aren’t sure how to cope when family members request visits from professional sex workers for their elderly relatives.