ase feelings of intimacy and increase loneliness (Miles & Parker, 1999).
These nursing home restrictions may be due to the lack of understanding of the intimacy needs of the elderly. A review of the literature has revealed gaps in the understanding of elder intimacy. For example, Wagner-Raphael et al. (2001) point to the link between intimacy and loneliness but fails to provide a comprehensive understanding of this relationship. In addition the literature points to the possibility that some elderly may need physical as well as emotional intimacy and others may fill intimacy needs with non-spousal relationships, such as may be found with siblings. A study is needed to determine the relationship between intimacy and loneliness, to understand elderly needs for the experience of intimacy (emotional, physical, or both), and to comprehend whether the elderly find intimacy within non-spousal relationships with significant others.
The purpose of this research study is to investigate elder intimacy, with specific emphasis on the relationship between intimacy and loneliness. Since intimacy lay be experienced with any manner of significant relationships (spouse, sibling, friend, child, other) and intimacy may or may not include both physical and emotional components, this research study also investigates these factors.
A theoretical frame of reference is used to explain the orientation of this study. For this study, Erickson's stages of psychosocial development is used to understand findings. For Erikson, young adulthood is the stage of psychosocial development for young adults ages 19 to 40 years. Intimacy was to be developed during this stage as the young adult dealt with the conflict between intimacy and isolation. This stage was followed by middle adulthood (ages 40 to 65 years) in which the middle adult dealt with generativity versus stagnation. Finally, according to theory, the psychosocial crisis associated with late ...