Close the Door and Open Your Mind: Advancing Sexual Openness in the Nursing Home

Abstract

Sexuality does not end when nursing home placement begins, yet nursing home personnel can be restrictive about allowing residents to enjoy sexual intimacy due to a host of reasons, from ageism to fear of litigation. This article discusses how nursing home residents are often discouraged from sexual connection and shares the author’s examples of sexual relationships challenged in long-term care. Sexual expression among older adults remains a rich topic to investigate. Literature and recommendations are presented to encourage a productive conversation about the need for more sex-positive nursing home policies and practices. Training to normalize sexual expression in a supportive nursing home environment has been viewed as beneficial to nursing home residents for added quality of life.