As I thought about the many topics that concern me when it comes to older adults, I couldn't help myself from writing about intimacy and sex. Maybe because where I come from, sex has always been a taboo, especially when it comes to the elderly. However, after starting my internship with the elderly, I could not believe that sex was a very common topic among many, and for healthy ones; may be one of the main topics in their mind. Many people believe that as people get older, they no longer enjoy intimacy. Intimacy, if not sexuality, is an ongoing human need for most people. There are misconceptions and negative attitudes about sexuality and aging that pose barriers to sexual fulfillment for residents of long-term care facilities. Health care providers need to examine their own attitudes and refrain from labeling an older adult's sexual activity or interest as a problem. Existing research on older adults' sexual activity suffers from inadequate population descriptions, particularly across cultures and ethnic groups, and with respect to education and financial status. In a 1999 American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) survey of 1,384 older adults, respondents reported that sexual activity was enjoyable. The AARP survey found that older adults with partners believe a satisfying sexual relationship is important, while those without partners feel no such urgency. Women older than 75 were less likely to have a partner than older men and, as such, appeared to have a less positive attitude or interest in sexual activity than men of the same age. Men with or without a partner had more frequent thoughts, fantasies, and feelings of sexual desire (and self-stimulation) than ... middle of paper ... partner to share life, happiness, and pain with for 40 years, what would happen to a person if they lost their significant other? Moody and Sasser argue that the normal aging process is not as much of a determinant of adult sexuality as marital status, general physical health, or an older person's feelings about sexuality. Sexuality is much broader than sexual intercourse. Older people, like younger people, need intimacy of all kinds to be happy and healthy, and there is individual variability in terms of what people need, want and enjoy. As a social worker working with this population for the first time was very interesting. Initially, writing about sexuality in general was intimidating, however I found the challenge interesting and rewarding. I look forward to continuing my work with older adults and hope to make a difference.