Purpose: This study was conducted to examine older adults' expression of intimacy to nursing personnel. Methods: A convenience sample of 176 elders was recruited from older adults with admission experience in hospitals or medical facilities. The study instrument for self-esteem was 4-point 10 items scale designed by Rogenberg and translated by Jeon and for loneliness, a 5-point 10-items scale by Russel & Peplau and translated by Won. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, x2-test, and independent t -test using SPSS 15.0 program. Results: The percentage of older adults with intimacy expression was 72.7%. Also, 76.6% of the group expression intimacy considered gratitude to be the reason for expressing intimacy. There were no differences found in the levels of self-esteem and loneliness between the group expressing intimacy and group not-expressing intimacy. Conclusion: The results indicate that older adults' intimacy expression to nursing personnel may not express sexual desire but express their loneliness or thankfulness. Therefore, nursing personnel should positively accept the elders’ intimacy expression and develop programs with physical or social contact for older adults.