Can intimacy be a human right? Is sex work a necessity for those society often forgets?
Playful Magazine’s latest micro-documentary challenges one of society’s biggest taboos: elderly sexuality and the role of sex work in providing intimacy for those who need it most.
Anneliese, 85, refused to accept the loneliness that came with aging. She made a decision that many still consider unthinkable—she hired a male escort. Her story forces us to reconsider everything we assume about intimacy, aging, and sex work.
This film doesn’t just tell one woman’s story. It raises a much larger question: if intimacy is a basic human need, why is it still so controversial for elderly and disabled people to seek it?
Watch the full documentary here.
Sex Work and the Elderly: Breaking the Stigma
When people think about sex work, they might imagine a middle aged male client looking for pleasure, not an 85-year-old woman looking for intimacy. But the need for touch doesn’t disappear with age. Neither does the desire to feel wanted.
For Anneliese, years of isolation led her to take control of her own needs. She found a male escort, Ben Nordmann, and decided to break the silence around aging and intimacy.
"I still have the same needs as before," she says. "The first time I met Ben, it was simply gracious."
The stigma surrounding older women and sexuality is relentless. While men are often encouraged to seek companionship at any age, women who do the same are shamed. This documentary forces a difficult conversation: why are we so uncomfortable with the idea that older women still desire intimacy?
Male Escorts and Sexual Assistance for Disabled People
Ben Nordmann is not just an escort. He is part of a growing movement of sex workers who specialize in working with elderly and disabled clients. His work goes beyond sex—it provides companionship, confidence, and emotional connection.
Many disabled individuals lack access to traditional relationships. Mobility issues, caregiver dependence, and social stigma create barriers that most people never have to consider. For many, hiring a sex worker is the only way they will ever experience intimacy.
“Many of my clients feel invisible,” Ben explains. “My job isn’t just about sex—it’s about giving them back their self-worth.”
While conversations about sexuality and disability are slowly shifting, stigma remains high. In some countries, governments are debating whether sexual assistance should be a legal right for disabled individuals.
The Legal and Ethical Debate Around Sexual Assistance
Should elderly and disabled people have the legal right to hire sex workers? Should governments provide access to sexual assistance programs for those who physically cannot seek intimacy elsewhere?
In some countries, the conversation is changing:
In the UK, debates continue over whether sex work should be legally accessible to disabled individuals.
In Germany, where our documentary takes place, sex work is legal, yet clients like Anneliese still face enormous social stigma.
In Australia, advocates continue pushing for sexual assistance to be recognized as a legitimate service for disabled people.
This documentary forces us to confront a difficult reality: intimacy is a fundamental part of being human, yet some people are denied it simply because of their physical limitations or age.
Watch the Full Documentary on Elderly and Disabled Sexuality
Watch the full documentary here.
Follow Ben Nordmann on Instagram: @justnotbed_ Follow Playful TV on Instagram: @playful.mag
For those interested in the realities of sex work, the legal landscape, and the overlooked needs of elderly and disabled individuals, this film offers an unfiltered look at a subject many refuse to talk about.
The question remains: if intimacy is fundamental to being human, why are some people still denied it?