PALTC23 Conference Recordings SA06 My Patient Wants to Have Sex. Now What? How Occupational Therapy Can Help

My Patient Wants to Have Sex. Now What? — How Occupational Therapy Can Help

While many older adults report they are or want to be sexually active, they experience physiological, cognitive, psychosocial, and environmental barriers. Determining if sex is safe for nursing home residents despite these barriers often falls on the physician. Occupational therapists (OTs) use a process known as activity analysis to break down activities and adapt them so any patient can perform them safely. Clinicians can utilize this patient-centered evaluation approach in their clinical decision-making around safe sex recommendations for residents. Through a brief presentation and case-based scenarios, attendees will learn about and practice using activity analysis skills to evaluate sexual activity. We will discuss when and how to consult rehabilitation clinicians on sexual activity. Lastly, we will go over techniques for best delivering sexual activity recommendations to patients and family.

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of this session, learners will be able to:

  • Use basic activity analysis techniques to effectively evaluate complex patient cases and determine if and how a patient can engage safely in sexual activity.
  • Demonstrate the ability to counsel patients and their partner(s) on if and how they can engage safely in sexual activity using evidence-based strategies.
  • Determine when to refer a client to occupational therapy and other rehabilitation services for a consultation related to sexual activity, safety, and satisfaction.

Zoe Loitz, BA, OT/s

Zoe Loitz, BA, OT/s, is an Occupational Therapy Doctoral Candidate at Boston University, Sargent College. Her research interests include the impact of homelessness on health and the role of rehabilitation in promoting sexual activity in individuals with disabilities. She graduated in 2021 from Denison University, where she studied Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies. She currently works as a personal care assistant.

Benjamin Canter, BA, OT/s

Benjamin Canter, BA, OT/s, is an occupational therapy doctoral student at Boston University and a Research Associate at the Center for Healthcare Organization & Implementation Research (CHIOR) in the VA Boston Healthcare system. His research interests include COVID-19 rehabilitation, dehydration prevention, and goals of care. He serves as a member of multiple AMDA committees, including the Transitions of Care, Annual Conference Planning, and Futures Program subcommittees.

  • 1.0 CME
  • 1.0 CMD Management
  • 1.0 MOC

Release Date: 03/29/2023   |   Expiration: 03/01/2026

Credit Statements:

Accreditation: Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

CME Designation: Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CMD Credit Hours: This CME activity has been pre-approved by the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (ABPLM) for up to 1.0 management hours toward certification or recertification as a Certified Medical Director (CMD) in post-acute and long-term care medicine. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit actually spent on the activity.

The CMD Program is administered by the ABPLM. Each physician should claim only those credit hours that he/she actually spent in the activity. For further information, contact ABPLM at 410-992-3117 or at cmd@paltmed.org.

ABIM Maintenance of Certification (MOC): Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.0 Medical Knowledge MOC points and patient safety credit in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.

Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Financial Disclosure Statement:

The Association requires the disclosure of all speaker/faculty/planner’s relevant financial relationships; presence of off-label use of a device or medication; and discussion of any experimental, new or evolving topic prior to each accredited education activity.

If the learner perceives any bias toward a commercial product or service, advocation of unscientific approaches to diagnosis or therapy, or recommendation, treatment, or manners of practicing healthcare that are determined to have risks or dangers that outweigh the benefits or are known to be ineffective in the treatment of patients please report this to the Association's staff.

The following speaker(s) disclosed relevant financial relationship(s): 

  • Julie Gammack, MD, CMD (Planner & Speaker): Stockholder: Amarin
  • Kenya Rivas Velasquez, MD, CMD, FAAFP (Planner & Speaker): OptumRx: Stockholder
  • All other planners, speakers, and AMDA staff have no relationships with ineligible companies.

All relevant financial relationships have been identified and mitigated.

Components visible upon registration.