Sexuality and Aging:

Community programs serving the elderly are becoming actively involved in the support of comprehensive wellness to meet the chan~ing needs of the agin adult. An occupational therapy g erspective enjoys compatibility wit 1 community wellness programs y recognizing the community as an arena for practice and by encouraging a broad view of wellness to include many occupational roles for the aging adult. This paper addresses the expression of sexuality.as a component of occupational behavior through a description of a program designed to assist the aging adult to (1) become more aware of the rocesses of normal sexual development, (2) become more aware o ! changes that are likely to occur in sexual needs and functions with aging, (3) understand the impact of illness, disability and medications on sexual functioning, and (4) view sexuality within one's occupational profile.