The Sexual Rights Charter for Older Adults aims to ensure that people are treated with dignity and respect, and without discrimination, as they get older when it comes to sexuality. It was designed to help people get better at talking about sexuality so they can get the support they need and services are guided on how to provide that support.

Sexuality, including sexual thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and identity, is important to many people but scientific and anecdotal evidence tells us that the sexual rights of older adults are rarely met. One of the main reasons is because as a society we tend not to view older adults as sexual. This has a huge impact on the way we think about and provide services for people as they age.

The Charter is a tool for inclusivity. By incorporating the Charter into our work, we can make a difference to people’s lives by recognising sexual agency, respecting diversity, and tackling ageism. We can also support the workforce in an area that many find challenging, and who report they would like to learn more about the sexuality of older adults but note a lack of training and education.