News and Articles

When the University of Kansas researchers sent to nursing homes to see how they handled the issue of sexual relations, no one wanted to talk at first.

"No one played the theme," said Gayle Doll, director of the Center on Aging at the University. "I suppose that people think is that their parents have sex, and yet their grandparents."


Following this experience, research seminars and other methods designed to encourage employees of ancianatos to talk about it and try to ensure that the elderly meet the needs they may have in this field.

One of the first seminar was held at the home of Hesston Schowalter Villa, where the initial reaction of several employees was, "From what we talk?" Says Lillian Claassen, vice president of health services in this center.


Claassen said the residents of sexuality has always been a sensitive issue in nursing homes.

"It is not that we care about their needs in the past, but it was like a release when we had discussions with the university researchers," said Claassen. "It made people start thinking about how you can help the residents."


Doll said the classes focus on the meaning of sexuality for the elderly, to identify barriers to satisfy their sexual needs, in identifying strategies to assist residents in learning to distinguish between what constitutes conduct sexual and what is not acceptable.

There are times when a simple sign of "do not disturb" enough. O instruct staff to knock the door of a room before entering. Claassen said her nursing home has a room in which residents can be alone and that staff are prepared to face any situation that may arise.


One possibility, for example, is that during a session of physical therapy beds are arranged so that a patient can be with your partner or companion, he said.

"What interests me is to promote dignity in a situation that can be very delicate," said Claassen. "We all need affection, generosity and companionship. We try to encourage that here, in a public place where people feel the need for privacy."


A relationship does not necessarily imply sexual intercourse. Many times the only thing anyone wants is to relieve loneliness or depression, said Doll.

Us that once a patient asked for pornographic material, but desisted when staff began to dedicate more time.


"The staff can help to combat loneliness and need for contact with residents," said Doll. "Some sexual expressions that can be viewed as inappropriate disappear if the person receives the attention it deserves."

When someone wants to have sex, things become complicated if the person suffers from dementia, it can be pulled with a launch site employees.


Claassen said the center staff was trained to reject these proposals carefully and he said that it must understand that the patient may be confused with your husband or wife, or reacting as it did in the past, something typical of dementia.

If a patient with dementia has a sexual relationship with another, we must determine whether it is consensual, said Robin Dessel, an expert on dementia and who works at the Hebrew Home in Riverdale, New York.


Dessel said people with dementia, even those who can not speak, they have desires and needs, and are able to express them. The staff must learn to distinguish if someone is going up or abuses committed by engaging in a sexual relationship.

Dessel said being aware that the elderly do not lose their rights when they are sick, including the right to express their sexuality.

"Looks do not matter, even if someone is incontinent and totally dependent. Everyone has the ability to feel and get excited," he said. "If you build a special relationship with someone, is something to celebrate."