Don’t touch! The taboo of intimacy in assisted living
July 18, 2015
Aging Today – American Society on Aging
Argues that sexual behavior is policed strictly — perhaps too strictly — in assisted living facilities, particularly by direct-care staff, whose “religious and cultural values” often discourage such behavior. The author, a research scientist at the University of Maryland’s Center for Aging Studies, suggests that residents’ preferences regarding intimacy should be clearly outlined before they enter assisted living. Additionally, direct-care staff and other frontline staff members should be trained continually to recognize and respect the fact that residents should be able to choose whether they want to express themselves sexually.
