Public Attitudes Toward Sexual Expression in Long-Term Care: Does Context Matter?

The purpose of this study was to (a) examine how age and sex of long-term care (LTC) residents influence public attitudes toward sexuality in LTC and (b) understand how, in the absence of cognitive decline, residing in LTC influences the perception of sexuality as a basic human right. Attitudes were examined using a factorial vignette with a probability sample of 325 respondents from a southern state. Results indicate that attitudes were not statistically affected by a vignette character's age or sex; but respondent education level, parenthood status, and religious affiliation did have direct bearing on attitudes. The notion of sexuality as a basic human right for residents of LTC was ultimately challenged as 19% of respondents said that LTC residents should not be permitted to have sexual relations with their spouse in the facility.

Memory banking: a life story intervention for aging preparation and mental health promotion.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of Memory Banking (MB), a life story development intervention within the context of aging preparation. Individuals participate in MB to strategically document and share their life story, including mapping out future dreams, aspirations, plans, and decisions. METHOD: Data (2010-2012) from eight MB workshops were examined to determine the impact of the intervention on mental health, social support, and quality of life. RESULTS: Recruitment efforts resulted in n = 72 participants, primarily female (72%), White/Caucasian (93%), average age of 70 years. Data indicated intervention effects showing improvements in depression (p = .041), mood disturbance (p = .0067), and cognitive performance (p = .0045). DISCUSSION: MB outcomes indicate that the intervention is promising and supports continued investigation and development in the area of life story development for aging preparation and improving late life mental health distress in a community setting. Future research is needed to examine the versatility and long-term effects of the MB intervention.

Know thy residents: an exploration of long-term care nursing staff's knowledge.

Nursing staff's knowledge of residents' lives in long-term care is critical to the provision of quality care, the formation of strong relationships between staff and residents, and the promotion of psychosocial well-being for residents. This study examines the degree to which nursing staff in assisted living facilities and nursing homes know residents in terms of their lives and occupations, family members, tastes and interests, and medical conditions. Quantitative surveys were administered to nursing staff-resident dyads (N = 199) as part of a larger study on quality of life in long-term care. Results indicated that while nursing staff generally knew residents fairly well, a significant percentage of nursing staff reported knowing nothing at all in each of the categorical areas of residents' lives. Implications center on eliminating barriers to knowledge attainment and implementing educational interventions that may augment nursing staff's knowledge of residents.