Simpson, P, Brown Wilson, C, Brown, LJE et al. (2 more authors) (2018) ‘We’ve Had Our Sex Life Way Back’: Older Care Home Residents, Sexuality and Intimacy. Ageing & Society, 38 (7). pp. 1478-1501. ISSN 0144-686X
Abstract
Older care home residents are excluded from the sexual imaginary. Based on a consultative study involving interviews with three residents, three female spouses of residents and two focus groups of care home staff (n=16), making an overall sample of 22 study participants, we address the neglected subject of older residents and sexuality and intimacy needs. Using thematic analysis, we highlight how residents’ and spouses’ accounts of sexuality and intimacy can reflect an ageist erotophobia occurring within conditions of panoptical control that help construct residents as post-sexual. However, not all accounts contributed to
making older residents’ sexuality appear invisible or pathological. Some stories indicated recuperation of identities and the normalization of relationships with radically changed individuals e.g. because of a dementia. We also examine care home staff accounts of the discursive obstacles that frustrate meeting residents’ needs connected with sexuality and intimacy. Simultaneously, we explore staffs' creative responses to dilemmas which indicate approaches to sexuality driven more by observed needs than erotophobic anxiety and governance as well as panoptical surveillance.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © Cambridge University Press 2017. This article has been published in a revised form in Ageing & Society at https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X17000101. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. |
Keywords: | ageism; care practice; erotophobia; intimacy; older care home residents; sexuality; sexual citizenship |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Nursing Adult (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 22 Feb 2017 11:22 |
Last Modified: | 13 Jul 2018 14:15 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1017/S0144686X17000101 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:112644 |