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Queering gerontology calls for more diverse and inclusive visions of old age, including those that resist normative ways of being. LGBTQ people have particular contributions to make to this project given their experiences of non-normative life events, sequences, and desires. This study presents a secondary qualitative data analysis, drawing from two existing datasets (13 life reviews with older bisexual-identified women and 40 creative narratives published in Bi Women Quarterly). The analysis examines queer and non-normative visions and experiences of aging from the perspective of queer and trans individuals across the life course. The findings are examined through the lens of three principles of queer gerontology, illustrating the potential of queer and creative visions of aging to reimagine the potential of gerontological scholarship. Notably, the creation and dissemination of queer narratives of aging and later life deepen visibility and awareness of diverse and marginalized experiences while also offering new and creative ways of imagining later life for all populations. The examined narratives engage critical perspectives, often dispelling normative ways of being through camping up, resisting, or queering notions of self, kinship, life and death, and the narrative form. Narratives also illustrate the engagement of multiple epistemologies, creating potential for more creative modes of inquiry, including creative writing and imagery, in envisioning later lives. These findings indicate the potential of revisiting existing data through the lens of queer gerontology principles to illuminate the possible forms queer gerontological scholarship could take, both empirical and conceptual.

Individuals who can imagine their aging futures are better prepared for the aging process. However, stories of later life often go untold, limiting public understanding of this complex phase of life. The Untold Stories of Aging Project was created to combat societal ageism through encouraging the creation of aging-focused art and intergenerational dialogue. Between 2021 - 2024, we have amassed a digital art exhibition including over 50 pieces of artwork from over 40 artists. Seven individual artists or groups have received awards for their submissions, honoring the evocative impact of their pieces, their connections to aging-related insights, and their creativity and originality. We present findings from interviews with awardees who discussed their artistic process, lessons learned about their own aging futures, and the intergenerational dialogue surrounding their pieces. Artists often cited intergenerational dialogue or the importance of family relationships as the motivation for their pieces. For example, one 26-year-old chose to challenge ageist stereotypes through her art following a conversation with her mother who described being perceived as “incapable” as she aged. Older artists shared how meaningful it was to be recognized as artists, with one 90-year-old stating, “It’s thrilling to know that something we are doing in such a common and ordinary way is impressive to anybody.” Through this project, artists have cultivated space for older adults to share their stories and legacies, illustrating how art and surrounding dialogue can combat societal ageism, foster intergenerational healing, and inspire audiences to consider and plan for their own aging futures.

As a sexual identity, bisexuality has historically characterized a contested, unique, and dynamic set of sexual attractions and experiences. Due to recent shifts in cultural understandings of diverse sexual and gender experiences, the bounds of what \"bi\" can be also are shifting continuously, making the meaning and experience of bisexuality unique across history and across generations. Older bisexual individuals in particular have reported experiences of sexuality that offer fluidity, freedom, and non-traditional lives. As the bisexual-identified population continues to grow, their lived experiences may inform future understandings of sexuality in meaningful ways.

As a sexual identity, bisexuality has historically characterized a contested, unique, and dynamic set of sexual attractions and experiences. Due to recent shifts in cultural understandings of diverse sexual and gender experiences, the bounds of what “bi” can be also are shifting continuously, making the meaning and experience of bisexuality unique across history and across generations. Older bisexual individuals in particular have reported experiences of sexuality that offer fluidity, freedom, and non-traditional lives. As the bisexual-identified population continues to grow, their lived experiences may inform future understandings of sexuality in meaningful ways.

Doll assessed sexual expressions, policies, and practices in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) in the state of Kansas. This study provided an updated and expanded assessment. A mixed-methods survey was distributed to administrators of all SNFs in the state of Kansas. Among 60 administrations, 84% reported any sexual expression among residents in their community within the past year and 55% reported expressions involving an individual with cognitive impairment. In response to sexual expressions, 70% of administrators believe staff would treat residents with dignity and respect and about 40% anticipated staff discomfort. About 40% of administrators reported having a policy related to sexual expression. Attitudes and responses of staff and administrators appear to be shifting in a sex-positive direction. While policies related to sexuality are more common than a decade ago, there is room for additional uptake, standardization, and infusion of person-centered language and practices.

Abstract Older bisexual women report a less positive sense of their sexual identity, less belonging in LGBTQ communities, and worse mental health outcomes compared to lesbian counterparts. These patterns are consistent with those identified among younger bisexual cohorts and appear to be connected to how bisexual identities are perceived and experienced; however, sexual identities take on unique meaning by gender and age and across historical contexts. To explore how older bisexual women construct and make meaning out of bisexual identities, this study applied a Foucauldian discursive and critical feminist conceptual framing to examine semi-structured interviews with bisexual women ages 60 and older (N=13). Findings reveal two divergent groups of women, the Early Emergers and Mature Migrators, who differ in their constructions of bisexuality and the timing of their first experienced attractions to other women. While the Early Emergers construct bisexuality as a stable, “hardwired” biological concept, the Mature Migrators challenge this narrative by emphasizing the fluidity of sexuality through discourses of migration spurred by “light bulb” moments in which they first recognized their attractions to women. This study illustrates the contributions of discourse analysis in revealing nuanced constructions of life course histories as well as the need for acknowledgment of life context in research and practice with older bisexual individuals. Scholars and practitioners must intentionally critique and contribute to discourses of bisexuality in later life.

Abstract Scholars have called for \"queering aging futures\" beyond normative assumptions or scripts (Sandberg & Marshall, 2019), which is well-aligned with queer theory's Cruising Utopia which suggests \"cruising ahead\" toward a queer utopian future that is not yet possible (Muñoz, 2009). Due to emphasis on form rather than content, narrative analyses enable the reimagining of queer futures not bound by material realities. This study presents a narrative analysis of 40 pieces of creative writing in Bi Women Quarterly (BWQ) that examine aging. Authors used writing to queer stories of relationships, activism, and aging. Many used incoherent, non-linear, and dreamlike or omnipotent storytelling to queer narratives, allowing them to \"cruise\" across time and versions of themselves, imagining futures that were new and unscripted. Narrative analysis allowed researchers to examine choices authors made in taking agency through storytelling. Findings indicate that queer people are well positioned to queer expectations of successful old age.

Abstract For women, midlife represents an important stage of transition, including shifts in physiological, social, and sexual experiences. Prior research demonstrates that women's sexuality is more dynamic and context-dependent than men's. Most research focused on women's sexuality in mid- to later-life emphasizes physiological changes, while largely ignoring changes stemming from social, psychological, and relational contexts. The present study examined midlife women's diverse sexual experiences within the context of their lives. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 women, ages 39-57 and used interpretive phenomenological analysis to investigate perceptions and interpretations of midlife sexual experiences and changes. Themes included changes in sexual engagement, unwanted sexual experiences, body image, and sexual healthcare. Participants reported changes in frequency of sex and sexual desire within the context of their diverse social roles and identities, prior intimate relationships, and sexual health. Women contrasted perceptions of their own bodies with societal perceptions of sexiness. Frequently reported negative experiences with sexual healthcare informed a distrust of healthcare systems. The diverse and changing nature of participants' experiences supports prior evidence of sexual fluidity and context-dependence. By questioning societal expectations around sexuality and body image, participants illustrated the potential of counternarratives to combat dominant beliefs and stereotypes about midlife women's sexuality. To improve sexual health and education, psychoeducational interventions and improved training for healthcare professionals are needed.

Abstract Many older adults remain sexually interested and active in later life. However, little is known about how sexual policies and practices in skilled-nursing facilities (SNF) address sexual activities of residents with cognitive impairment and dementia. This study seeks to identify the current sexual policies and staff's perspectives related to residents with cognitive impairment or dementia in SNFs in Kansas. Online surveys and mailed surveys were distributed to administrators from all 364 SNFs in Kansas in June 2020. 60 long-term care facilities (16.5%) answered the survey. Of 60 survey respondents, 22 facilities (36.7%) have a policy addressing sexual expression and 19 of those policies (94.7%) address issues related to cognitive impairment, competency, or dementia. 77.4% had trained their staff on the impact on sexual expression for those with cognitive impairment or dementia once or more than once during the past year. 73.3% of administrators stated that their staff would respond differently to sexual expression among individuals with dementia or cognitive impairment compared to other residents, often noting issues related to consent and capacity. 55.2% reported any sexual expression among residents with dementia within the past year. Findings indicated that there is a lack of overall sexual policies, but those that exist are likely to address residents with cognitive impairment or dementia. Although there is evidence of training and attention to issues related to sexual expression in individuals with dementia or cognitive impairment, there is a need for further efforts to establish practice norms and policies around more complex or nuanced situations.

Abstract Prior studies have reported barriers to meeting the sexual needs of older adults within skilled-nursing facilities, such as a lack of privacy, lack of supportive practices and policies, and judgement or discomfort on the part of the staff (Doll, 2013; Hajjar & Kamel, 2003). In 2008, Doll and colleagues assessed the scope of sexual behaviors, staff perceptions of and responses to such behaviors, and whether facilities had a sexual policy in place in SNFs in the state of Kansas (Doll, 2013). In the present study, an online survey was distributed to the same population to provide an updated assessment of sexual behaviors, policies, and practices. Of 60 survey respondents, 62.7% reported knowledge of individual sexual acts (e.g., masturbation) within the past year and 34.5% reported interactional (between two or more residents) sexual acts. When encountering a sexual event, staff were most likely to report the incident to an administrator (76.7%) and treat residents with respect (70.0%), while 35.0% and 41.7% were expected to respond with embarrassment and discomfort, respectively. Only 40% of administrators reported having a policy related to sexual expression. Findings indicate that staff are likely to respond differently to LGBTQ residents due to discomfort and those living with cognitive impairment due to concerns related to consent. The proportion of facilities in Kansas with policies related to sexual expression has increased from 26% to 40% in the past 12 years, but there remains a need for greater specificity of sexuality-related policies and trainings.