Sexual bereavement: a forgotten concept

While death and dying are certain, they remain taboos in health and community care. However, this month, I take a look at death, dying, sex and intimacy, and how they are connected to the neglected concept of sexual bereavement. Dying and death put an end to most of the things we enjoy in life, including sexual activities and intimacy. According to Radosh and Simkin (2016), there is ample evidence that sexual activity is highly valued among the older population. Older adults need care during their end-of-life phase, so it is important to discuss how sex and intimacy can be facilitated in communities at this critical stage. It can be argued that if a person used to engage in sexual activity and intimacy before their illness, they should continue to do so during the end-of-life phase, provided that their symptoms are taken into account. The opposite can also be true. Those who did not engage in or enjoy sexual activity may want to start as a way of saying their goodbyes to each other. The first step should be to ascertain their needs during the regular assessment for progressing symptoms.