About Us, Sexuality and Aging Consortium

The Sexuality and Aging Consortium helps older adults – and the human services professionals who serve them – embrace and advocate for their sexuality.

The Consortium offers:

• Leadership in the area of sexuality, intimacy, and aging
• Education and consulting for older adults, their families, and caregivers
• Training for professionals and paraprofessionals
• Consulting and policy development for agencies, facilities, and CCRCs
• Research opportunities and partnerships
• Multimedia resources
• High-caliber trainers and speakers
• Networking and business promotional opportunities
• Support for professionals and students interested in sexuality and aging
• Annual conference with continuing education credits
• Newsletter, blog, Facebook page, and other communication related to sexuality and aging. 

Contact us at SAConsortium@widener.edu to learn more about our services and opportunities for tax-deductible support. We look forward to working with you toward our common goals.

Accomplishments

In a short time, the Sexuality and Aging Consortium became a leader in the field by building awareness, providing direct services to consumers and professionals, training professionals and paraprofessionals, and helping organizations develop and implement policies and procedures that protect older adults’ sexual rights.  

The Consortium has:

• Grown the annual Sexuality, Intimacy and Aging Conference into a can’t-miss event for professionals and graduate students across the U.S. and Canada
• Presented everything from TEDTalk-style programs to medical Grand Rounds lectures, keynotes, and plenary talks at national and international conferences and commissions and agencies serving aging adults 
• Delivered a preconference seminar for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists
• Participated in the Summit on Medical Education in Human Sexuality in 2012 and 2014
• Co-sponsored a two-day training of trainers for long-term care organizations, with Kendal Continuing Care Retirement Community
• Established a social media presence across our blog, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
• Hosted the debut of the Silver SAR™, a sexual attitude reassessment seminar developed by three Consortium members
• Published an online bibliography of multimedia resources on sexuality and aging
• Built an Advisory Board of international scholars and leaders in gerontology, sexuality, social work, and other human services professions
• Co-sponsored an association for students interested in serving older adults
• Became an expert source for print, online, and broadcast media
• Contributed to books, articles, and documentaries
• Supported the first study on the efficacy of sexuality education for older adults
• Increased the international reach of our Advisory Board
• Joined the Advisory Council of the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance
• Joined the National Coalition on Sexual Health

Next Steps

The Consortium has a full calendar of events for 2015, including:

• A screening of “Age of Love,” a documentary about older adults and dating, co-sponsored with the Student Association for Services for the Aging
• A workshop on bridging the young/old divide at the annual meeting of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education in Nashville
• A program on age-related sexual privilege at the annual meeting of the American Society on Aging in Chicago
• An expert panel on dementia and sexuality at the annual meeting of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists
• Our 5^th Annual Sexuality, Intimacy and Aging Conference
• Webinars featuring Consortium member and Advisory Board member experts