Sex a fact of life in residential care: provider
After a New York nursing home is sued for providing ‘adult entertainment’ for its residents, a major Australian provider says seniors have a right to make adult decisions.
Sexuality is an important aspect of an adult’s life and older Australians have a right to express their sexuality when living in residential aged care.
That’s according to an Australian aged care operator, speaking in response to reports of a facility in the United States being sued for allowing adult entertainment.
The case of a New York nursing home being sued after strippers were allegedly hired on a regular basis for elderly female residents has been widely reported in international media.
Responding to the controversy, RSL Care acting chief executive officer Luke Greive said older people had a right to express their sexuality when living in residential aged care.
“We need the courage to discuss these topics openly and honestly with the collective goal to improve the holistic physical and emotional well-being of our clients,” Mr Greive said.
“We are talking about adults who have the right to make adult decisions.”
Mr Greive said sexuality was an important aspect of an adult’s life and impacted their relationships. “At RSL Care, we seek to understand all aspects of our residents’ lives and what is important to them through our holistic approach. It helps to shape and influence every decision we make in supporting quality of care – and life.”
He said providers of aged care had a responsibility to ensure all aspects of our seniors physical and emotional wellbeing needs were being met, including their identity and relationships. “Our residential care communities are after all, our residents’ homes.”
Mr Greive said the aged care industry needed to be open to changed community expectations around sex and ageing.
“I don’t think people reach a certain age and their sexuality automatically shuts down or the relationships they have or plan to have no longer function at the same level,” he said.
“Because you are ageing does not mean your wants and needs cease. Conversely, it is at this time of your life – when you may feel most alone and vulnerable, that feeling confident, safe and secure in yourself and your surroundings is most important.”
People living in residential aged care should have the opportunity to maintain choice and control in all aspects of their lives – including their sexuality, he said.
Yes. I personally believe that old people should living their sexuality as long as it is morally acceptable. A married couple could live again in the same room. The aged care organisation is to set up facilities so that this people could live happy the rest of their life. Fornication or adultery should not be permitted in aged care. Sexual harassment should never be tolerated.
LUKE – you are a legend, I wish there were more providers with your approach. Impotence Australia has been working to raise the importance of older people continuing a healthy sex life, with regards to the emotional and physical benefits. They have produced a really handy guide to Comfy Sex that is free to download from http://www.inthemoodstore.com.au/resources/