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Description

Since 2023, the USA Health Centre for Healthy Communities, in partnership with the City of Mobile Parks and Recreation Department, has implemented the ‘Golden Nuggets’ Seniors Health Education Outreach program cycles at two community senior centers. Among the multi-session curriculum, Session Five—Senior Sexuality—has consistently been one of the most engaged and interactive, co-facilitated with the Alabama Department of Public Health HIV Prevention Unit. This session provides a culturally sensitive forum for African American older adults to voice questions or receive updated information on sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and sexual health practices relevant to their aging-in-place lifestyles. Anecdotal participant feedback reveals pervasive knowledge gaps and discomfort regarding current recommended STI or sexual health regimens, as well as a frequent omission of sexual health discussions in routine clinical care consults. Consistent with prior research, these dialogues highlight barriers including cultural and societal expectations around sexuality in later life, stigma and embarrassment in peer and caregiving contexts, and perceived ageism and inadequate training among healthcare professionals, which collectively deter open discussion and care-seeking behaviors. Such barriers also contribute to inconsistent sexual history taking and may inadvertently elevate STI risk among older adults. Concurrent public health data indicates significant  STI increases among older populations; for example, commercially insured patients aged 65 and older experienced a 23.8 % rise in STIs between 2020 and 2023, with notable growth in diagnoses of syphilis, gonorrhea, and HPV, and a 16.2 % increase among those aged 55–64 in the same period. These trends reinforce the critical need for targeted education and dialogue. Structured community interventions that provide real conversation opportunities with trusted health communicators such as the Golden Nuggets may be an effective mechanism to reduce stigma, enhance sexual health literacy, and support the quality of life outcomes for seniors choosing to age-in-place

Publication Date

4-2026

Keywords

Senior Adult Sexuality, Community Health Worker, Community Engagement

Disciplines

Public Health | Public Health Education and Promotion

Comments

This poster was presented at the 19th Conference on Improving Health Outcomes. 

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

I'm Sexy and I know it! Do you?! Candid Conversations with Seniors on Sexual Health

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