title: Staff knowledge and perceptions of sexuality and dementia of older adults in nursing homes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adults hold negative attitudes toward sexual expression in late life. We investigated knowledge and attitudes about older adult sexuality and dementia among staff in nursing homes (NHs).
  
  
  METHODS
  We acquired staff demographics, knowledge of dementia and sexuality, and attitudes of sexuality. Staff participated in focus groups and received continuing education credit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three NHs had an average census of 178 beds. Participants' (N=100) mean age was 38.53. The most common type of sexual contact reported was nondemented male with nondemented female (67.5%), followed by demented male with demented female (53.6%). Participants endorsed neutral attitudes about late-life sexuality. Focus groups revealed a need for more training and effective interventions to balance resident safety and autonomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Staffs' knowledge of sexuality and dementia, desire for guidance in "managing" sexual expression, and neutral attitudes toward late-life sexuality supports the need for educational interventions on sexuality and dementia in NH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Di Napoli
authors.forename: Gloria Lauren
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Breland
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000407:Alabama; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: attitudes toward aging; dementia; nursing home care; religion and spirituality; sexuality