Sexuality in nursing care facilities - L'Infirmière Magazine n° 331 du 15/10/2013 | Espace Infirmier
 

L'infirmière Magazine n° 331 du 15/10/2013

 

FORMATION CONTINUE

FORMATION ANGLAIS

Older adults are sexual beings. And yet the attitudes of nursing home staff may be a barrier to their continued health and satisfaction. Seniors contend with many obstacles to expressing their sexuality : disabilities ; adverse effects of prescribed medications ; cognitive impairment and a lack of privacy in a home where residents may be encouraged to leave their doors unlocked and socialise in public spaces. Policies are often lacking to help staff deal with situations when romantic or sexual behaviour is displayed. Furthermore, a study(1) shows that staff find it easier to accept behaviour that seems to be « romantic » as opposed to that which appears to be « erotic ».

In the absence of guidelines, staff often turn to the patient’s family, who then decides whether a relationship should be allowed to continue or not. Even if the patient is in an assisted home because of a physical and not a cognitive deterioration, it may be the family’s wishes that are paramount. The issue is not an easy one in the nursing home context, especially if dementia is involved. Sufferers may lose their inhibitions and engage in inappropriate behaviour, potentially leading to aggression and physical injury.

Suggestions for the ways forward include : examining one’s own attitudes towards sexuality in older patients ; improving education ; establishing guidelines concerning residents’ and families’ rights and what the care home’s responsibilities are.

1- Ehrenfeld M, et al. « Sexuality among institutionalized elderly patients with dementia » Nursing Ethics. 1999 ; 6(2) : 144–9

Basé sur un article de l’AJN, American Journal of Nursing : March 2013 - Volume 113 - Issue 3 - p 53-55doi : 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000427883.10548.47 Katz, Anne PhD, RN

MOTS ET EXPRESSIONS

Facilities (npl)

Ici, structures

Continued (adj)

De façon continue, permanente ; ici, au quotidien

Disabilities (npl)

Incapacités ;

handicaps

Furthermore

(adv)

De plus ; en outre ; d’ailleurs

Guidelines (npl)

Lignes directrices ; directives ; orientations

Assisted home (adj+n)

Établissement pour personnes dépendantes

Paramount (adj) Ce qui prime ; d’une importance capitale ; primordial

QUESTIONS

1. For what reasons may a patient be discouraged from expressing his sexuality ?

His nursing staff may not encourage « erotic » behaviour ; his family may have forbidden it ; he may suffer from dementia and behave inappropriately or risk harming a partner.

2. Why do nursing staff give such importance to the family’s wishes ?

Because of the lack of guidelines and/or education on the issue of patient sexuality.

3. Discuss : what are your own attitudes towards sexuality in senior patients ?