The intimacy/sexual needs of the terminally ill and the widowed

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
“When I was in the hospital and received the first results of my tests—that I had Hodgkin's Disease—I had an overwhelming desire to be held—to be loved and caressed. I sent out cues to the only man who might possibly understand—my physician—and he went flying out the door” (comments of a young woman in her 20s). “Sure I've missed sex. My husband and I had a good sex life almost to the day he died of a coronary. In fact, we made love the night before. But I couldn't carry on with another man unless we were married. I would feel too guilty. In fact, I don't even know if I could remarry. What do I do? I try to stay active, and travel. Once in awhile I masturbate, but I end up usually feeling both relieved and guilty as hell” (comments of a 50-year-old widow). “I've enjoyed talking with you, Mrs. Carpenter. Would you care if I visited again?” “That would be nice,” the 84-year-old woman with slightly glazed blue eyes replied from her bed. Death hovered close. The cancer had metastasized throughout her entire body. “You know, I have some students who would love to visit with you and talk. Would it be okay to bring a few along with me?” “Oh yes, that would be fine. I enjoy company.” As I got up to leave, it occurred to me to ask, for no particular reason, “Would you prefer that I bring you men or women or both?” Her eyes sparkled as she replied spontaneously, “Young men of course … I've always preferred men” (a conversation three days before the death of Mrs. Carpenter). “Another manifestation of anxiety, a reaction to the stress of dialysis, was the occurrence of unconcealed masturbation in many of the male patients during the early months of dialysis” (26).
Keywords

This publication has 14 references indexed in Scilit: