Proposal Presented for the Master Plan for Aging (#126)
Disclaimer
Throughout the MPA process, more than 100 proposals were developed thanks in particular to thousands of hours of work by external stakeholders and members of the public. These proposals and the MPA Council commentary are being submitted to the Governor and shared with policymakers and the public to inform policymaking. These proposals represent a starting point for discussion. Further discussion is necessary between relevant state agencies and stakeholders to both refine these proposals and assess which may be appropriate to adopt and implement.
Summary
Establish training and materials to better serve older adults related to their sexual health and intimacy needs to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual violence, and to foster healthy communication and relationships.
Justification
Sexual health discussions and prevention related measures are often avoided or ignored with older individuals. Due to provider discomfort, time constraints, or lack of information, older adults often are not provided the necessary information to protect themselves from STIs or other issues that may arise from dating or intimacy seeking when struggling with loneliness, post-menopausal physical relationships, or the loss of a spouse/lifetime relationship. Misnomers about physical intimacy seeking and sexual desires on older adults hinder important conversations with healthcare or supportive service providers.
Full Proposal
Provisions must be put in place to ensure that older adults have adequate access to information to foster healthy sexual relationships and intimacy.
- Develop and implement a training curriculum on the sexual health of older adults for medical providers and supportive service providers.
- Create or expand statewide campaigns to foster discussion on older adult sexual health with caregivers and providers (i.e., public awareness marketing etc.)
- Expand current and future curricula and healthy aging materials to meet the needs of other provider systems including long-term care facility staff, behavioral and physical health providers, and others to improve training and training outcomes and challenge widespread ageism and misinformation around the sexual activity of older adults.
- Support the development of a New York State Sexual Health Bill of Rights. The Bill of rights will guide communication between providers and consumers regarding the assessment of sexual health risk factors, discussion of prevention choices, understanding of treatment options and testing/screening opportunities.
- Continue and expand awareness and access to sexual health and prevention efforts (i.e., PrEP, Doxy PEP, Hepatitis, intimate partner violence, etc.) to all treatment providers and ancillary staff who can proactively initiate conversations with older adults.
- Advocate for STI and HIV education and testing for older adults, even those over 65.
MPA Council Commentary
This proposal is categorized as near-term. Exploration may be needed to identify other potential training/resources. The AIDS Institute within DOH could work with NYSOFA and all stakeholders to update and develop statewide materials and training, facilitate the development of a statewide standard for dissemination, and create a plan for enforcement and attestation for all training recipients. Any additional resources or funding allocations would be subject to the annual budget process and available resources.