Study of Sexuality in Elderly Women with Mild Alzheimer's Disease

The objective of this study was to understand the sexuality of elderly women with mild Alzheimer's disease and its manifestations, through the perceptions of the elderly women themselves and their carers. To achieve this, a study was conducted using qualitative epistemology with a sample of three elderly women and their respective carers, who voluntarily participated in the study. During these meetings, two semi-structured interviews were conducted and Qualitative Epistemology instruments were applied, which is an interactive tool using two projective techniques: cut-and-paste or drawing and photographing the elderly women. The results, in line with the constructive-interpretative methodology associated with the interpretation of the reports and projective techniques, constructed the relevant indicators for understanding the sexuality of the elderly participants. They revealed that sexuality continues in old age and that the disease did not prevent them from maintaining sexual desire, despite recognising changes in their "performance". It is concluded that mild Alzheimer's does not prevent the experience of sexuality, but rather seems to direct it to be experienced according to the opportunity.