Intimacy and sexuality of nursing home residents with dementia: a systematic review

Abstract

Although results were found in a wide range of intimate and sexual behavior, knowledge, attitudes and needs of others, and descriptions of culture in residential and nursing homes, the perspective of residents was lacking in literature. Also a "protective" care paradigm was found throughout. Future research is needed to highlight resident perspective and develop training opportunities and guidelines for care staff.

Older residents’ perspectives on aged sexuality in institutionalized elderly care: A systematic literature review

“…A broad definition of sexuality is therefore warranted when discussing aged sexuality in institutionalized elderly care settings (Roelofs et al, 2014). Confining sexuality to explicit sexual activity or breaking it down into constituent behaviors definitely facilitates its description, but does no justice to the complexity of human sexuality (Gott, 2005).…”

“…Rather than focusing on the resident perspective, most reviews on aged sexuality in long-term care settings either adopt a bird-eyes view on the matter (Bauer et al, 2007;Bouman et al, 2006;Makimoto et al, 2014;Parker, 2006;Roelofs et al, 2014) or zoom in on a specific issue of importance such as barriers to residents' sexual expression (Elias and Ryan, 2011;Hajjar and Kamel, 2003), the attitudes and knowledge of nursing staff (Mahieu et al, 2011), and sexual abuse or hypersexuality (Rosen et al, 2010;Tucker, 2010). However, since both the need for and expression of sexual intimacy are highly individual (Bauer et al, 2007;Gott, 2005); it is of critical importance to gain insight into the residents' views and experiences of sexuality and sexual expression in institutionalized elderly care (Elias and Ryan, 2011;Mahieu et al, 2014;Roelofs et al, 2014). After all, they are the main consumers of care in this context.…”

Navigating Tensions About Resident Sexual Expression in Alberta’s Continuing Care Homes: a Qualitative Study of Leaders’ Experiences

“…There is often a lack of staff education about sexual expression across the lifespan and an absence of related policies (Bauer, Nay, & McAuliffe, 2009;Tarzia, Fetherstonhaugh, & Bauer, 2012;Villar, Fabà, Serrat, & Celdrán, 2015). The personal perspectives of staff and family members often create limitations for resident sexual expression (Frankowski & Clark, 2009;Makimoto et al, 2015;McAuliffe et al, 2015;Roelofs et al, 2015). Furthermore, when ageism, sexism, and ableism converge at the topic of sexual health, older persons experience disproportionate amounts of discrimination or stigma from care staff and family members (Doll, 2013;Frankowski & Clark, 2009).…”

“…Despite its benefits, supporting sexual expression in care homes can be complex. Scholars have noted that sexual expression in continuing care is often influenced by a multitude of factors, including the perception that residents are asexual, stigmatization of some forms of sexuality, and organization of living spaces and care practices that displace opportunities for intimacy (Doll, 2013;McAuliffe et al, 2015;Roelofs, Luijkx, & Embregts, 2015). Supporting this private aspect of a resident's life is further complicated by the many parties who occupy the resident's space for the purposes of providing personal care, observation, and socialization.…”

Loneliness in Nursing Homes

“…11 Furthermore, sexuality and the need for touch does not disappear in old age. 12 In nursing homes, opportunities to meet one's intimate needs for closeness and touch are limited. Moreover, feelings of loneliness for residents unable to look back on their lives with feelings of fulfillment may differ from those of residents who are satisfied with their life-course.…”