lpc1124

Hi Diana, Thanks for your response. There are so many levels to the issue of intimacy in long term care. If 2 residents are consenting & competent, does the family have a say in how they express their feelings? If 2 residents are mildly demented yet are still drawn to each other in some way (hugging, kissing, hand holding or more) does the facility have the right to separate them if their families object? Whose needs are we serving? This situation occured in one of my facilities. The residents were separated & became depressed. I think these are issues that are still not being dealt with as sensitively as they should. The need to be loved certainly doesn't decrease with age or impairment.

If both participants are adults & mentally competent why is it anybody's business whether they are being intimate or not? They have a right to privacy. And why does this need to be documented?