Supporting sexual activity in long-term care.
Although nurses in almost every long-term care facility face daily challenges involving issues related to residents' sexual lives, guidelines for ethically supporting sexual activity are rare and inadequate. A decision-making framework was developed to guide care providers in responding to the sexual expression of residents in long-term care. The framework recommends that nurses should weigh the documented substantial benefits of having a sexual life against harm to the resident and others, and against offence to others. This article illustrates the use of this ethical decision-making framework by using the example of nurses supporting a resident's expression of his sexuality. It is suggested that nurses use this framework to guide their practice when related ethical issues arise.
Everett
Bethan
B
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. bjeverett@shaw.ca
D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011477:Sex Work; D019529:Sexuality / Q000941:ethics*