Psychosexual needs and sexual behaviors of nursing care home residents

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

“…Bullard-Poe et al (1994), in their turn, reported that sexualphysical intimacy is perceived as less important than emotional intimacy, intellectual intimacy, non-sexual physical intimacy, and social intimacy. This seems to coincide with the findings of Mroczek et al (2013). Within this study physical closeness, intimate contact and living together were rated as less important than mental closeness, tenderness, conversation, respect and support by both men and women.…”

“…In the study conducted by Mroczek et al (2013) 51% claimed to feel sexual tension, and 24.7% remained sexually active. Only 39%, however, said their psychosexual needs were met.…”

“…Within institutionalized elderly care, residents' sexuality might be expressed through daydreaming (Bretschneider and McCoy, 1988;De Bruyn, 1980), reminiscing (Bauer et al, 2013;De Bruyn, 1980;Mroczek et al, 2013), reading romantic or erotic books (De Bruyn, 1980;Spector and Fremeth, 1996), dressing up (Bauer et al, 2013;De Bruyn, 1980), making witty flirtatious remarks (Hubbard et al, 2003), giving compliments (Frankowski and Clark, 2009;Hubbard et al, 2003), proximity (Hubbard et al, 2003), hand holding (Frankowski and Clark, 2009;Hubbard et al, 2003), hugging (Spector and Fremeth, 1996;Tzeng et al, 2009), touching (Bretschneider and McCoy, 1988;Frankowski and Clark, 2009;Hubbard et al, 2003;Spector and Fremeth, 1996), stroking or caressing (Bretschneider and McCoy, 1988;Hubbard et al, 2003;Mulligan and Palguta, 1991;Spector and Fremeth, 1996;Tzeng et al, 2009), kissing (Frankowski and Clark, 2009;Hubbard et al, 2003;Mroczek et al, 2013;Mulligan and Palguta, 1991;Spector and Fremeth, 1996;Tzeng et al, 2009), fascination (Mroczek et al, 2013), intercourse (Bretschneider and McCoy, 1988;Mroczek et al, 2013;Mulligan and Palguta, 1991;…”

“…Occasionally these residents might overtly criticize coresidents' sexual behavior as shameful or embarrassing (Tzeng et al, 2009). Mroczek et al (2013) investigated the potential influence of certain stereotypes regarding aged sexuality on nursing home residents. Most stereotypes seemed to have been picked up by the participants.…”

“…A majority of their participants held the opinion that health professionals should be prepared to openly discuss sexuality with older residents and expressed the willingness to receive consultation and treatment if needed. Currently, however, only a small minority of residents actually mentions their psychosexual needs to caregivers (Mroczek et al, 2013).…”