Care home provider appoints sex ‘champions’

Staff to be taught to see sex as a natural part of life for older and disabled people, by Sue Learner

Family Mosaic housing, one of London’s largest care providers, has appointed 12 sex “champions” to teach staff to see sex as a natural part of life for older people and those with disabilities.

Many older people enjoy an active sex life. However there is a myth, that is all too prevalent, that older people are asexual. This can lead to older people’s sexuality in care homes being overlooked and even discouraged.

A report last year called Dementia, sexuality and consent in residential aged care facilities found many older people are being denied their basic right to have sex, with many care home residents unable to lock their doors and only being given single beds.

The research, published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, also found most care homes do not have formal policy guidelines or staff training aimed at allowing residents to continue being sexually active.

In a bid to change this, Family Mosaic is giving all of its staff sexuality training and appointing sex “champions” for staff and residents to go to with any issues. The training is based on guidelines devised by the Sexual Health and Disability Alliance (Shada).

Yvonne Arrowsmith, group operations director at Family Mosaic, said: “The ‘champions’ are being trained up at the moment and there will be one in each of our regions with one for older people, one for people with learning disabilities, one for people with physical disabilities and one for people with brain injuries.”

Staff will also be given training covering the issue of the right to a sex life regardless of age, disability and sexuality, safeguarding issues and risk, professional boundaries and guidance on how to support people around sexual health issues. The training also touches on different sexualities and in Family Mosaic’s policy. “We make it clear that people of all different sexualities are welcome. People come into care homes and they have had private lives where they may be transvestites and transsexuals and it is a part of who they are.”

The care home provider has found that staff often do not think about the sexual needs of residents and this new initiative is all about “making sex a subject that can be discussed so staff can meet residents’ needs”.

“We currently ensure residents’ practical needs are met but we also want to cater for their personal needs. Staff feel quite uncomfortable talking about sex with people who are older and people with learning and physical difficulties. I think it is partly down to being British and not being as open as other countries. We believe it is important that staff do not see this as a taboo subject,” says Arrowsmith.

There are also huge taboos around disability and sex. Recent reports that a care home procured sex workers for its disabled residents and new Helen Hunt film The Sessions have put disability and sex in the spotlight.

It is a very difficult issue for care homes, with some arguing vulnerable people are being put at risk and Shada claiming sex is a human rights issue.

Family Mosaic says it has never had any residents asking it to procure prostitutes. Arrowsmith says: “Staff are told in the policy guidance that they cannot do anything that is illegal and we would assess any such request on an individual basis in close consultation with a social worker.

“We want our staff to see sex as part of life and recognise that it is still a natural part of life for older people and for people with disabilities. When people live in a care home they should have the same choices that they would have were they living in their own home.”

Family Mosaic ensures residents have their own privacy so all residents have their own room, can have a lockable door and all staff are expected to knock and wait to be invited in.

Anchor is another care home provider which offers staff training on sexuality. Residents receive person-centred care and sex and sexuality can be an important part of that, according to Anchor.

An Anchor spokesman said: “We provide training on sexuality and intimacy and staff can also access information about it on our intranet.

“We are always careful to ensure people can have privacy when they want it. For a couple in a care home it is possible to convert one room into a shared bedroom and the other into a sitting room. Our newest care home, West Hall, in West Byfleet, has double rooms available.”

A recent survey by Age UK found that sex remains an important part of life for older people with nearly two-thirds of people over 65 saying they are currently enjoying a fulfilling sex life.

So it is about time care home providers start recognising and valuing older people’s sexuality, as sex is a very important part of being human.

Sue Learner is news editor at carehome.co.uk