scholarly journals Using Ethics and Law to Address Sexuality in Long-Term Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 603-603
Author(s):  
Pamela Teaster
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Sexual Intimacy ◽  
Assisted Living Facilities ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Starting Point

Abstract Issues concerning the sexuality of older adults in long-term care have long presented an array of thorny conundrums for long-term care staff and administrators, for friends and family members, and, most importantly, for the residents themselves. At any one time, more than two million older adults reside in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, and the predominant trope of people who are helpless, demented, and asexual is at once inaccurate and unfair. Moreover, the important need for sexual intimacy remains a life-long, even when persons have worsening dementia and chronic illness. This presentation uses bona fide, de-identified case examples as a starting point for consideration. Drawing upon the extant literature, as well as best practices, this presentation applies ethical principalism (i.e., autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice) as well as current law to recommend practices and approaches to sexuality in long-term care.

Resident-to-Resident Aggression in Long-Term Care: Analysis of Structured and Unstructured Data From the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003-2016

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
pp. 1069-1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen A. DeBois ◽  
Shelly D. Evans ◽  
Sheryl L. Chatfield
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Living ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Reporting System ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Violent Death ◽  
Assisted Living Facilities ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Trend Data

Aging adults are at risk for multiple types of abuse including emotional, sexual, or physical abuse. Adults in skilled nursing or assisted living facilities might be particularly vulnerable to injury, including fatal injury resulting from incidents of resident-to-resident aggression (RRA). The purpose of this research is to report findings from the multistate National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) related to fatal RRA incidents between years 2003 and 2016. We analyzed structured categorical data and unstructured narrative data on 101 identified fatal RRA incidents among individuals aged 65+. Findings included that victims average 16 years older than exhibitors and dementia diagnoses are present in most cases. Qualitative analysis revealed that events are described as both unexpected and preventable. Training to improve long-term care staff recognition and reporting of RRA events may potentially improve prevention and provide more accurate trend data. NVDRS data provide a useful source to follow trends in fatal RRA going forward.

Racial and Ethnic Identity of Older Adults Residing in Assisted Living Facilities in Central Florida

2002 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 185-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy L. Dietz ◽  
James D. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Assisted Living Facilities ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Central Florida ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Racial And Ethnic Identity

In response to the growing concern over the provision of long-term care to an ever-expanding older population, new methods of delivering services to older adults are constantly being developed. The development and expansion of long-term care via assisted living facilities (ALFs) is one approach that has proven surprisingly popular all across the nation. Despite the popularity of ALFs, relatively little appears to be known about the residents of these facilities. This article examines the racial and ethnic identities and certain other characteristics of residents in a stratified probability sample of assisted living facilities in central Florida, a region that contains one of the nation’s densest populations of older adults. Fifty-nine facilities serving 1,805 residents were surveyed. Predictably, racial and ethnic minorities were significantly underrepresented among the residents of these facilities. Facilities serving relatively large minority populations were characterized by lower room rates and a larger proportion of beds set aside for Office of Social Services (OSS) residents (i.e., beds funded through state funds or by Medicaid). The general run of these findings suggests that as they have been implemented in central Florida, ALFs may well perpetuate preexisting socioeconomic inequalities among the aged population.

O2-08-04: Resident and facility determinants of long-term care placement among older adults with dementia residing in assisted living facilities

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (4S_Part_7) ◽  
pp. P251-P251
Author(s):  
Monica Cepoiu-Martin ◽  
Laurel Strain ◽  
Andrea Soo ◽  
David Hogan ◽  
Scott Patten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Assisted Living Facilities ◽  
Term Care

A Comparison of Wandering Behavior in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth R. A. Beattie ◽  
JunAh Song ◽  
Shane LaGore
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Challenging Behavior ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Assisted Living Facilities ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Training Requirements ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Staffing And Training

Wandering, a challenging behavior associated with dementia, affects many residents of long-term care facilities and can result in elopement, injury, and death. Most studies of wandering have taken place in nursing homes (NH). Expansion of the long-term care sector over the last 2 decades has resulted in a surge in options such as assisted living facilities (ALF). This study compared wandering behavior of residents (N = 108) in 21 long-term care facilities (15 NH, 6 ALF). Staff used the Revised Algase Wandering Scale-Nursing Home Version (RAWS-NH) to quantify wandering. While there were some differences in demographic variables (i.e., race, motor ability) between NH and ALF participants, no significant differences were found in either RAWS-NH overall or any of the 6 subscale scores. This suggests that the expression of wandering is similar in long-term care residents across all dimensions of the RAWS-NH regardless of facility type. Findings are of concern for those involved in the safe management and protection of residents at risk for wandering, particularly in long-term care facilities with underregulated staffing and training requirements.

Forensic Issues in Long-Term Care Psychiatry

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marshall B. Kapp
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Living ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Psychiatric Treatment ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Assisted Living Facilities ◽  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Term Care

This chapter focuses on medical-legal issues that may arise in the context of identifying psychiatric needs and providing psychiatric care for older persons in long-term care institutional settings, specifically residents of nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. Following general observations about the present regulatory climate in the United States governing nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, the chapter explores mental health assessment requirements for residents of those venues. Key legal responsibilities and restrictions regarding the psychiatric treatment of those residents are then discussed, as well as several areas of concern about potential exposure to litigation and liability on the part of long-term care providers. Finally, some of the most salient future legal and policy challenges confronting those who plan, fund, provide, and evaluate long-term care institutional psychiatric services are noted.

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