Loss of intimate connection in aged care: Balancing care, consent and dignity

Who should view this webinar recording?

This webinar is for any staff involved in the care and support of aged people. This includes health care assistants, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical and non-clinical managers, and auxiliary staff.

Overview

Commonly, very frail older adults, including people living with dementia, move to residential care homes. Maintaining significant intimate relationships can be challenging. With communal living, new relationships may also flourish that may unsettle the expectations of staff, families and other residents. Residential facilities typically want to uphold a person-centred philosophy, yet without education and support for staff and families, there can be increased loneliness and diminished opportunities for intimacy.

Residents’ expressions of intimacy and sexuality can be compromised by confusion around staff expectations, the role of the EPA and consent. Dementia adds complexity to this decision-making. Clinical leaders are central in ensuring policies and practice enhance social and sexual belonging and rights. This includes having organisational support of a practical policy accompanied by staff, resident, and family education and role modelling.

Key learning points

• Understand that intimacy, connection, and sexual expression are lifelong needs
• Recognise the ways residential care homes can facilitate sexual expression, balancing a duty of care, resident’s rights and communal living
• Recognise the supportive, educative, and advocacy role of staff
• Identify the role of family dynamics in shaping decisions about residents’ intimacy and sexual expression needs
• Understand the legal context of a duty of care and residents’ rights
• Appreciate the difference between individual staff members’ values and preferences and residents’ legal rights

Find out more and BOOK ONLINE