Staff Knowledge and Perceptions of Sexuality and Dementia of Older Adults in Nursing Homes

2015

Previous research on older adults in nursing home facilities has focused on medical care, safe and dignifying living conditions, quality of life variables, and assessment of senility and sexual disinhibition, or inappropriate sexual behavior, almost all of which was conducted using quantitative methods. The aim of this study was to give voice to ten older adults (six men and four women) who had been living in a nursing home and the four staff (one social worker and three registered nurses) who cared for them. This study aimed to explore sexual expression as it was perceived, experienced, and practiced by those older adults. Participants were asked to give their accounts during semi-structured interviews. The succeeding transcripts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis and seven emergent themes were identified, including (1) demographic differences, (2) gender differences related to marriage and sexual interest, (3) self as a sexual being, (4) updating the sexu...

Nursing Ethics, 1999

Psychology and Sexuality, 2013

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education, 2020

Human sexuality is part of life, regardless of age or where someone resides. Previous research on older adult sexual expression in nursing homes has primarily focused on staff perceptions – almost all of which was conducted using quantitative methods. This phenomenological study aimed to explore sexual expression as it was perceived, experienced, and practiced by ten older adults, ages 65 and older, residing in a nursing facility. This paper will explore themes associated with the self-perception of affordances and barriers to engage in sexual expression, and how we as mental health counselors may best serve the needs of older adults and advocate for affirming policies.

International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2017

Age and Ageing, 2021

Long-term care (LTC) facilities, in which older adults are institutionalised, have the responsibility to address their residents’ rights, privacy and comfort in expressing themselves sexually in an acceptable manner. However, many older adults have reported barriers in their sexual expression, which is often a result of the care staff’s attitudes in the facilities. This review synthesis evidence from qualitative studies on the challenges faced by care staff when supporting sexual expression of older residents in LTC facilities. The systematic review and meta-synthesis is reported according to the Enhanced Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research Statement. A systematic literature search for peer-reviewed studies was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL and ProQuest Theses and Dissertations from inception until December 2020. Sandelowski and Barroso’s two-step approach was used to synthesise the evidence. Seven...

Sexuality and Disability, 2010

Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with nursing managers from 198 randomly selected residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, Australia to gather information about how they perceive and respond to the sexual expression of elderly residents, particularly in relation to policy and training. Participants expressed positive views about the rights of residents for sexual expression but few facilities had any formal policies or training programs in place. Managers identified a range of sexuality-related issues as sources of concern in their day to day operation, however, these tended to be dealt with in an informal and ad hoc way. The lack of policy guidelines and training in this area leads to inconsistent and uncertain practice, with negative implications for the sexual health of residents and the smooth functioning of facilities. A national level approach to policy development is indicated.

Health Expectations, 2016

Health care analysis : HCA : journal of health philosophy and policy, 2014

Intimacy and sexuality expressed by nursing home residents with dementia remains an ethically sensitive issue for care facilities, nursing staff and family members. Dealing with residents' sexual longings and behaviour is extremely difficult, putting a burden on the caregivers as well as on the residents themselves and their relatives. The parties in question often do not know how to react when residents express themselves sexually. The overall aim of this article is to provide a number of clinical-ethical considerations addressing the following question: 'How can expressions of intimacy and sexuality by residents with dementia be dealt with in an ethically responsible way?' The considerations formulated are based on two cornerstones: (1) the current literature on older peoples' experiences regarding intimacy and sexuality after the onset of dementia, and (2) an anthropological-ethical framework addressing four fundamental pillars of human existence namely the decent...

International Psychogeriatrics, 2012

ABSTRACTBackground:Sexuality in later life and its relationship to dementia is a neglected topic: greater understanding of the area has the potential to contribute to the quality of life of people with dementia, their family members, and formal carers. We review current knowledge about sexuality, aging, and dementia.Methods:We undertook a review of the recent literature to examine of the following areas: what is known about sexuality and aging, and about attitudes to sexuality and aging; what is known about the relevance of sexuality and aging to people living with dementia and their care; and the management of sexual behaviors causing concern to others.Results:Sexual activity decreases in frequency with increasing age but many older people remain sexually active; there is no age limit to sexual responsiveness; and sexuality is becoming more important to successive cohorts of older people, including people living with dementia and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered elderly pe...