Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Catering to Love, Sex and Intimacy in Residential Aged Care: What Information is Provided to Consumers?

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Sexuality and Disability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A survey was conducted to investigate the extent to which the 826 residential aged care facilities in the State of Victoria, Australia, inform prospective residents and family about how they cater to intimacy and sexuality needs in the written information they provide. An explanatory letter requesting any textual or graphical material that is made available that addresses the issue of intimacy and sexuality, was sent to aged care facility managers. Less than 20% of facilities responded after two reminders. A range of reasons for not participating were provided. Sixty-four percent of facilities indicated that they had no information available on the topic. The responses reinforce the view that older people’s need for intimacy and sexual expression in residential care, remains on the periphery and is yet to receive sufficient attention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Heath, H.: Sexuality in later life. In: Heath, H., White, I. (eds.) The Challenge of Sexuality in Health Care. Blackwell Science, Oxford (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Deacon, S., Minichiello, V., Plummer, D.: Sexuality and older people. Revisiting the assumptions. Educ. Gerontol. 21, 497–513 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bretschneider, J., McCoy, N.: Sexual interest and behaviour in healthy 80 to 102 year olds. Arch. Sex. Behav. 17(2), 109–129 (1988)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bauer, M., McAuliffe, L., Nay, R.: Sexuality, health care and the older person: an overview of the literature. Int. J. Older People Nurs. 2, 63–68 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Nusbaum, R., Singh, A., Pyles, A.: Sexual healthcare needs of women aged 65 and older. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 52(1), 117–124 (2004)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Robinson, J.G., Molzahn, A.E.: Sexuality and quality of life. J. Gerontol. Nurs. 33(3), 19–27 (2007)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Drench, M.E., Losee, R.H.: Sexuality and sexual capacities in elderly people. Rehabil. Nurs. 21(3), 118–123 (1996)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kellett, J.: The reality of sexual behaviour in old age: there’s a lot of it about. Geriatr. Med. 19(10), 17–19 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kellett, J.: Sexuality in later life. Rev. Clin. Gerontol. 3, 309–314 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kellett, J.: Sex and the elderly male. Sex. Marital Ther. 11(3), 281–289 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Roe, B., May, C.: Incontinence and sexuality: findings from a qualitative perspective. J. Adv. Nurs. 30(3), 573–579 (1999)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Gott, M., Hinchliff, S.: How important is sex in later life? The views of older people. Soc. Sci. Med. 56, 1617–1628 (2003)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Weg, R.B.: Introduction: beyond intercourse and orgasm. In: Weg, R. (ed.) Sexuality in the Later Years: Roles and Behavior, pp. 1–9. Academic Press, Sydney (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Crosse, R., Drake, L.: Older women’s sexuality. Clin. Gerontol. 12(4), 51–56 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Riley, A.: Sex in old age: continuing pleasure or inevitable decline? Geriatr. Med. 29(2), 25–28 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Sherman, B.: Sex, Intimacy, and Aged Care. Australian Council for Educational Research Ltd, Melbourne (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Walker, B., Harrington, D.: Effects of staff training on staff knowledge and attitudes about sexuality. Educ. Gerontol. 28, 639–654 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Lichtenberg, P.A.: Clinical perspectives on sexual issues in nursing homes. Top. Geriatr. Rehabil. 12(4), 1–10 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Feldkamp, J.K.: Navigating the uncertain waters of resident sexuality. Nurs. Home Long Term Care Manag. 52(2), 62–65 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Bauer, M.: Their only privacy is between their sheets: privacy and the sexuality of elderly nursing home residents. J. Gerontol. Nurs. 37–41 (1999)

  21. Nay, R.: Sexuality and older people. In: Nay, R., Garratt, S. (eds.) Nursing Older People: Issues and Innovations, 2nd edn, pp. 276–288. Churchill Livingstone, Sydney (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bauer, M.: The use of humour in addressing the sexuality of elderly nursing home residents. Sex. Disabil. 17(2), 147–155 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. McLean, A.H.: What kind of love is this? The Sciences 34(5), 36–40 (1994)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Gott, M., Hinchliff, S., Galena, E.: General practitioner attitudes to discussing sexual health issues with older people. Soc. Sci. Med. 58, 2093–2103 (2004)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Gunderson, A., et al.: Rural physicians’ attitudes toward the elderly: evidence of ageism? Qual. Manag. Health Care 14(3), 167–176 (2005)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Archibald, C.: Sexuality and dementia: the role dementia plays when sexual expression becomes a component of residential care work. Alzheimer’s Care Qual. 4(2), 137–149 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Ward, R., et al.: A kiss is still a kiss? The construction of sexuality in dementia care. Dementia 4(1), 49–73 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Hajjar, R., Kamel, H.: Sexuality in the nursing home, part 1: attitudes and barriers to sexual expression. J. Am. Med. Dir. Assoc. 4, 152–156 (2003)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Department of Health and Ageing: Charter of residents rights and responsibilities http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/Publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-publicat-resicharter.htm (2005). (cited 2007 August)

  30. Department of Health and Ageing: Documentation and accountability manual: professional nursing practice. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/Publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-manuals-dam-download.htm (2005). (cited 2007 August)

  31. Parker, S.: What barriers to sexual expression are experienced by older people in 24-hour care facilities. Rev. Clin. Gerontol. 16, 275–279 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Polivka, L., Salmon, J.R.: Consumer-directed Care: An Ethical, Empirical, and Practical Guide for State Policymakers. Policy Exchange Center on Ageing, Florida (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Aizenberg, D., Weizman, A, Barak, Y.: Attitudes toward sexuality among nursing home residents. Sex. Disabil. 20(3), 185–189 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Neuendorf, K.A.: The Content Analysis Guidebook. Sage, London (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Bouman, W.P., Arcelus, J., Benbow, S.M.: Nottingham study of sexuality and ageing (NoSSA II). Attitudes of care staff regarding sexuality and residents: a study in residential and nursing homes. Routledge 45–61 (2007)

  36. Archibald, C.: Sexuality, dementia and residential care: managers report and response. Health Soc. Care Community 6(2), 95–101 (1998)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Ehrenfeld, M., et al.: Sexuality among institutionalised elderly patients with dementia. Nurs. Ethics 6(2), 144–149 (1999)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. National Ageing Research Institute: The wellness project: promoting older people’s sexual health. http://www.mednwh.unimelb.edu.au/research/service_rac.htm, p. 121. National Ageing Research Institute, Melbourne (2002)

  39. Roach, S.M.: Sexual behaviour of nursing home residents: staff perceptions and responses. J. Adv. Nurs. 48(4), 371–379 (2004)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Chandler, M., et al.: Sexuality, older people and residential aged care. Geriaction 22(4), 5–11 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Stancil, B.P.P.: Sex and the elderly: no laughing matter in religion. J. Relig. Gerontol. 15(1–2), 17–24 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Sharpe, T.H.: Introduction to sexuality in later life. Fam. J. 12(2), 199–205 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Nay, R., McAuliffe, L., Bauer, M.: Sexuality: from stigma, stereotypes and secrecy to coming out, communication and choice. Int. J. Older People Nurs. 2, 76–80 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Everett, B.: Ethically managing sexual activity in long-term care. Sex Disabil. 25, 21–27 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nursing & Midwifery, Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia

    Michael Bauer

  2. Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia

    Rhonda Nay & Linda McAuliffe

Authors
  1. Michael Bauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rhonda Nay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Linda McAuliffe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Bauer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bauer, M., Nay, R. & McAuliffe, L. Catering to Love, Sex and Intimacy in Residential Aged Care: What Information is Provided to Consumers?. Sex Disabil 27, 3–9 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-008-9106-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-008-9106-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation