Sexual behaviour of institutionalised residents with dementia – a qualitative study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics of and the contexts related to sexual behaviours among institutionalised residents with dementia. Institutionalised residents with dementia are frequently unable to manage their sexual needs properly resulting in caregivers having a more conservative and passive attitude toward residents with dementia than those with higher cognitive status. A grounded theory study. The participants in this study were institutionalised older people with dementia and their formal caregivers. Data were collected using in-depth, face-to-face interviews of 12 formal caregivers and by observing 12 institutional older people with dementia for three days. All observations were recorded and interview data were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. The results indicated that the predisposing factors included having opportunity, presence of a cooperative target and personal space without privacy. The sexual expressions of institutionalised older people with dementia included: physically intimate touch, sexual expression without touching others and sexual talk. Responses by individuals to sexual behaviour from another resident included neutral response, negative response and positive response. To provide better care, it is recommended that an inventory regarding sexual expression for clinical and research usage be constructed from the research results. The findings of this study can provide the basis to develop on-the-job training programmes for sexual education of residents with dementia in institutions. Regular seminars on sexual care for the residents with dementia might be beneficial for managing sexual issues among residents and to decrease caregivers' burden.