clinical focus
Sexual expression and dementia
What should care staff do when confronted with sexual expression in people with dementia ?
Cindy Jones interviewed by Dallas Bastian
Sexuality is a part of life , regardless of a person ’ s age or whether they have dementia .
Dr Cindy Jones from Griffith University raised this point following her study into a training program designed to improve health professionals ’ knowledge about sexual expression among people with dementia .
Jones said that in long-term care settings , consultation with older people , including those with dementia , about their sexual needs and concerns is minimal or doesn ’ t happen at all .
“ Often , care staff actually find it quite challenging to respond to the sexual needs of older people , including those with dementia ,” she added . “ They see the expression of sexuality as a problem rather than an expression of need , and they ’ re often reporting to be feeling quite uncomfortable with displays of affection or sexual behaviour by those people they ’ re caring for .”
Expression of sexuality is important , Jones said , because it ’ s a key attribute of an individual ’ s identity . Curtailing the expression of sexuality , she added , can affect a person ’ s mental wellbeing and quality of life .
To increase the awareness and understanding of intimacy , sexualities and sexual behaviours specific to people with dementia , Jones ran several education webinars .
“ Overall , from the research evidence we are receiving from health professionals and carers of those with dementia , we can see that there have been some positive shifts in both knowledge and attitude ,” she said , adding anecdotal evidence suggests that aged care facilities should have this type of training due to the importance of the issue in the lives of people with dementia .
“ It ’ s important , within reason , to try to support as much as possible sexual expression of older people , including those with dementia , in an aged care environment .”
Aged Care Insite spoke with Jones about the ways this can be done and the lessons shared through the webinar .
ACI : What are some common misunderstandings people hold about sexual expression in people with dementia ? CJ : There is a conventional ageist view that older people are asexual and therefore without sexual needs . But talking with older people , including those with dementia , we know that they continue to be sexual beings with the capacity and the need to express their sexuality . And we know through research that the sexual rights of older people are not always supported when they are in care or in long-term care settings .
Care staff struggle with the sexual expression of older people , and dementia adds another layer of complexity , because care staff can have a paternalistic view where they ’ re concerned about the cognitive capacity of older people with dementia to consent to being in a relationship .
Why is it important to improve everyone ’ s understanding of this issue ? Expression of sexuality is important because it is a key attribute to an individual ’ s personal quality of life , even for older people or those with dementia . And it is a really significant component of the identity and also who they are as an individual . And if we try to suppress or restrict them in their expression of sexuality , it will lead to a decrease in quality of life , unhealthy interpersonal relationships , or poor self-concept of themselves , and basically it doesn ’ t lead to them having a sense of integrity of who they are . In severe cases , it can lead to detrimental effects on social relationships , their self-image , as well as their mental wellbeing .
24 agedcareinsite . com . au