Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
ReviewSexuality in the Nursing Home, Part 1: Attitudes and Barriers to Sexual Expression
Section snippets
Nursing Home Residents’ Viewson Sexuality
In 1979, Wasow and Loeb 9 reported that most of the 63 nursing home residents they studied admitted to having sexual thoughts and fantasies. Eighty-one percent of males and 75% of females said that older people should be allowed to have sex, but most were not actively engaged in sexual activity at the time of the interview because of lack of opportunity. The persistence of libido despite infirmity and institutionalization is in agreement with the work of White, 10 who found more nursing home
Barriers to Sexual Expression in the Nursing Home
Guilt-free sexuality that is fulfilling and therapeutic is dependent on the concept of self-worth, physical health, social acceptance, and a supportive environment. All these factors can be severely encumbered in the nursing home setting. Interestingly, having a sexual partner, particularly in men, is not imperative for fulfilling sexuality, though residents with partners are reported to have more frequent and routine sexual encounters. 5 Table 1, Table 2 lists barriers to sexual expression in
Conclusion
Sexual expression among nursing home residents is a basic human need. Physicians and staff caring for older persons in nursing homes should address this need as part of their duty to enhance the quality of life and well-being of their patients.
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