Human wants, needs alive in old age

Aged care residents who express sexual desires are too often perceived as displaying “problematic” behaviour, Luke Greive, RSL Care’s executive manager, claims.

Mr Greive’s comments came following the care provider’s recent Sex in the Seniors workshop which discussed sexuality in residential aged care.

Facilitated by Gretel Killeen, Australian journalist, author and former reality television Big Brother Australia host, the workshop was an opportunity to discuss topics in aged care that “some people still feel uncomfortable discussing”.

According to Mr Greive, the “sexual desires” of residents are not actions care providers necessarily need to “manage”, but rather “approach” in a way that better supports expression of their basic human needs.

“Because you are ageing does not mean your human wants and needs cease…. it is at this time in your life when you may feel most alone and vulnerable,” he says.

Feeling “confident, safe and secure” in yourself and your surroundings is most important, Mr Greive adds.

Through open discussion, Mr Grieve believes aged care providers are “one step closer” to better understanding how to improve support for meeting the physical and emotional needs of residents.

“There is still a long way to go… but the most important thing is that conversation continues,” he says.

An education resource, Sexualities and Dementia: Online Education Resource for Health Professionals, will be available as an eLearning tool at the end of this month. For more information, contact Dr Cindy Jones on (07) 3735 7284 or c.jones@griffith.edu.au