Healthy Sexuality & Aging Needs Assessment Project 

in 2009, the NSRC partnered with a team of Masters of Public Health students from San Francisco State University’s Department of Health Education to conduct a community assessment exploring the sexual health resource needs of elderly people residing in assisted living facilities (ALF) within the San Francisco Bay Area.

They interviewed unmarried residents, age fifty-nine-plus, as well as directors of assisted living facilities for one-on-one, one-hour interviews. Rather than inquiring about a resident or director’s personal information regarding their own sexuality and sexual experiences, questions will be solely focused on what perceived barriers and opportunities to healthy sexuality exist within a given facility. The assessment was conducted throughout the summer of 2009 .

Ultimately, the NSRC wanted to better understand how sexuality and intimate relationships among unmarried residents of ALFs occur and are responded to. This information will be used to help support the sexual health and overall well-being of residents and to ensure staff are appropriately resourced and trained to handle intimacy among residents. The NSRC, in partnership with local and national organizations, intended to take the data from this assessment and produce new sexuality resources, trainings, and policies for ALFs in San Francisco and beyond.