A review and commentary on the factors that influence expressions of sexuality by older people in care homes

Abstract

There is need for nurses and other care staff to gain a better understanding of and insight into late life sexuality. This involves change at an educational level but also at an organisational and cultural level in long-term care settings.

How do formal caregivers experience the sexuality of older adults? Beliefs and attitudes towards older adults’ sexuality

“…These results agree with various previous studies using different methodology (Bouman, Arcelus, & Benbow, 2007;Elias & Ryan, 2011;Holmes, Reingold, & Teresi, 1997;Walker et al, 1998) that found positive attitudes towards older adults' sexuality in nursing homes. Sexual problems in older people should be managed sensitively and practically by FCs with respect to individual differences in sexual interest and activity.…”

“…We conclude that positive beliefs may not translate into permissive attitudes and behaviours, as shown by Elias and Ryan (2011). Zeiss and Steffen (1996) noted that FCs ability to communicate effectively with older adults about sexual concerns is dependent upon their knowledge.…”

“…This can be explained due the fact that a large part of the sample have geriatric qualification and years of experience. Previous literature has found that older FCs (Bouman, Arcelus, & Benbow, 2007;Elias & Ryan, 2011;Holmes, Reingold, & Teresi, 1997;Walker et al, 1998), by having more work experience (Saunamäki, Andersson, & Engström, 2010;Walker & Harrington, 2002) generally show more positive attitudes towards older residents. However, in this study we did not find any relationship between age and years of experience: some older participants had positive beliefs and attitudes, and some had negative beliefs and attitudes.…”

“…Overall, some research reports moderately positive and permissive attitudes towards later life sexuality held by aged care staff (Bouman, Arcelus, & Benbow, 2007;Elias & Ryan, 2011;Holmes, Reingold, & Teresi, 1997;Walker, Osgood, Richardson, & Ephross, 1998) tolerance of or hold negative or patronizing attitudes towards the sexual expression of residents (Bauer, 1999a;Gott, 2004;Hinrichs & Vacha-Haase, 2010;Walker & Harrington, 2002).…”

“…However, despite a growing recognition of the importance of this issue, studies on the sexual expression of older people living in nursing homes are scarce, thus making it a less investigated topic (Gastmans, 2014;Elias & Ryan, 2011). More specifically, little is known about how FCs perceive and manage later life sexual health problems (Bentrott & Margrett, 2011;Gott, Hinchliff, & Galena, 2004;Roach, 2004), highlighting a need to develop the evidence base which would support the inclusion of sexual health and policy guidelines in the education and training of residential care home staff (McAuliffe, Bauer, & Nay, 2007).…”