A Loving Approach to Dementia and Sexuality

Intimacy, sexuality and sexual behaviors remain some of the most sensitive and controversial health care issues that arise in Long Term Care facilities. As people with dementia experience changes in cognition and judgment, the expression of their sexuality may result in behaviors that are challenging to manage. Health care professionals working in Long Term Care facilities often perceive residents with dementia as asexual beings.

There is a pervasive belief that “sex is for the cognitively intact”. Consequently, it is often difficult for caregivers to accept that residents and those they identity as potential partners have the right to seek out and engage in sexual expression, and to be given privacy to carry on intimate relationships. A Loving Approach to Dementia and Sexuality provides a clearer vision of how dementia impacts the resident, the family and all staff in all areas of human existence, as well as the sensitive topic of human sexuality. Becoming “dementia-aware” includes knowing we cannot stop, change or fix dementia symptoms or behaviors-we can only learn to manage them. Participants will come away with a transformed dementia perspective and empower them with creative strategies to better manage sexually based dementia symptoms and behaviors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION regarding registration CONTACT: e-mail: Helen Vanderhoof [email protected]