Sexuality is a broad term that encompasses sexual identity, activity, attitude toward sex, intimacy, partnership, and pleasure. In this podcast, we cover the basics of sexual function and the effects of aging, medical comorbidities, and mental health on sexuality. We discuss sexual health in long-term care settings and in older adults with cognitive disorders and suggest an approach to commonly encountered sexual health issues. 

Both common, yet elusive, symptoms of depression, dementia, and delirium may overlap in older adults, which provides a diagnostic challenge. Even more confounding, these three disorders, the three Ds of geriatric psychiatry, frequently present simultaneously. In this episode, we will review key features to help distinguish between these disorders and provide some tips on their management.

Almost 90% of older adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, yet posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continues to be overlooked in older patients. Clinicians should routinely assess for symptoms of PTSD, as a missed diagnosis can lead to poor health outcomes including increased suicide risk. In this episode, we will shed some light on assessing and treating PTSD in the older patient.