Sexual Expression of the Elderly in Nursing Homes

Abstract

The differences in attitudes between 85 elderly nursing home residents and 207 nursing home nursing staff toward sexual expression of the elderly were examined. A 32-item questionnaire relating to attitudes towards various types of sexual expression in the elderly was administered independently to nursing staff and verbally to the residents. The nursing staff responded less conservatively than the residents; and the residents indicated they did not feel sexually attractive and were restricted in their sexual expression by lack of privacy. Implications for promotion of sexual identity are discussed.