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To help prevent older adults from
contracting STDs, some New York City senior centers are providing free condoms
and informational sessions to its members. According to an agency spokesperson,
the city’s Department of Health (DOH) distributes both male and female condoms
as well as lubricant to more than 3,500 sites through its NYC Condom
Availability Program. In 2012, the program sent 245,000 condoms to senior
centers in the five boroughs.
Jacqueline Eradiri, executive
director of the Ridgewood Older Adult Center, explained that men are at a
premium and some men are having sex with more than one partner. This may result
in STD transmission. To create awareness of safe sex, Eradiri periodically invites
healthcare professionals to the center to speak about safe sex and demonstrate
how to put on a condom. She keeps condoms and an equal number of individual
lubricant packets in her desk drawer. DOH provides 1,000 of each to the center;
clients ask for them when they need them. However, not all centers function in
this way. Judy Ascherman, assistant director of the Howard Beach Senior Center,
stated that she does not feel comfortable distributing condoms to clients, so
she does not accept the free condoms that DOH offers to the center.
To better educate seniors, an
independent collective of professional sexuality educators, researchers,
authors, trainers, and counselors have created the SaferSex4Seniors.org site to
teach elders about protected intercourse.
Pat Bishop, the executive director
at the Rockaway Boulevard Senior Center in South Ozone Park, noted that DOH
does not provide condoms for her facility, but its parent group, Jamaica
Service Program for Older Adults (JSPOA), has a grant-funded department with
staffers who visit the location to talk about safe sex and HIV transmission.
Betty DeBaptiste, a retired nurse and HIV coordinator with JSPOA, gives safe
sex classes. She mentioned that the education sessions include a film in which
elder adults discuss the topic as well as demonstrate how to use both male and
female condoms. She explained that she usually notifies the audience that they
may leave the room, if they feel uncomfortable during the demonstrations, but
only one or two have ever left.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
