Abstract
Sexuality and intimacy in care homes for older people are overshadowed by concern with prolonging physical and/or psychological autonomy. When sexuality and intimacy have been addressed in scholarship, this can reflect a sexological focus concerned with how to continue sexual activity with reduced capacity. We review the (Anglophone) academic and practitioner literatures bearing on sexuality and intimacy in relation to older care home residents (though much of this applies to older people generally). We highlight how ageism (or ageist erotophobia), which defines older people as post-sexual, restricts opportunities for the expression of sexuality and intimacy. In doing so, we draw attention to more critical writing that recognises constraints on sexuality and intimacy and indicates solutions to some of the problems identified. We also highlight problems faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGB&T) residents who are doubly excluded from sexual/intimate citizenship because of ageism combined with the heterosexual assumption. Older LGB&T residents/individuals can feel obliged to deny or disguise their identity. We conclude by outlining an agenda for research based on more sociologically informed practitioner-led work.
Highlights
It seems that sex is only for the young
Whilst health problems can encourage redefinition of sex (Mahieu, Anckaert and Gastmans ), intimacy remains important until the end of life (Kuhn )
We focus on care home residents because, compared with those living more independently, their opportunities to express themselves as sexual and/or intimate beings are much more likely to be restricted (Bauer et al ; Doll ; Phillips and Marks ; Villar et al ; Wornell )
Summary
It seems that sex is only for the young. This is evident in the lack of media images of older people as sexual beings (Garrett ) and ‘gift’ cards that ridicule their assumed lack of sexual, physical and cognitive capacity (Bytheway ). Care home residents and sexual/intimate citizenship residents’ or older service users’ needs relating to sex, sexuality and intimacy.
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