Abstract

Although sexual activity among elderly people remains taboo, residents in eldercare institutions often still have sexual desires, and catering for these desires could improve the quality of life for some of society’s most vulnerable – and most depressed – people. I argue that sexbots are apt to provide such a sexual service. I consider the potential benefits and pitfalls of other sexual possibilities, such as having sex with other residents, nurses, or sex workers, or using sexual aids to masturbation, and I suggest that although some of these have potential, the use of sexbots should nevertheless be considered in addition to them. I address some potential criticisms, including moral objections to sexbots, sex not being a physiological necessity, issues of social justice, and the fact that many others in society do not have their sexual needs catered for. I give some suggestions for safety and dexterity modifications to current sexbots to enable their safe use by elderly people.