MONDAY, May 7 (HealthDay News) -- Most health care professionals do not have any formal training in elder sexuality. They also have mixed opinions about supporting elder sexuality in a nursing-home setting, according to research presented this week at the annual scientific meeting of the American Geriatrics Society in Seattle.
Wahila Alam, M.D., of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York, and colleagues surveyed more than 200 health care professionals working in a large nursing home.
Although 60 percent of respondents reported having at least 10 years of experience working with older adults, the researchers found that only 30 percent of all respondents had any formal training in elder sexuality. Of the 47 percent of respondents who reported that sexuality was important in their own lives, most agreed that the staff should give residents opportunities to express their sexuality. Of the 57 percent of respondents who identified themselves as highly religious, most agreed that staff should not support residents' sexual activity.
"This large study, a very unique research project in the long-term care industry, is now leading to an innovative quality management educational training program for all health care professionals in the facility, including social workers, nurses and nurses aides, physical and occupational therapists and physicians," Alam said in a statement.