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Sex and Intimacy Policy in Residential Aged Care Facilities in Flanders, Belgium

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Abstract

A survey was conducted using the 69 item Sexuality Assessment Tool (SexAT) to identify how supportive residential aged care facilities in Flanders, Belgium are of residents’ sexual expression. 750 aged care facilities were contacted and 69 (9.2%) completed the SexAT survey after three reminders. Findings indicate that no facilities are rated as ‘excellent’ (score greater than 60/69) and only 12% as ‘very good’ (score between 41–59/69). The majority (58%) of facilities are rated as ‘good’ (score between 21–40/69) and 30% scored less than 20/69. While the generalizability of findings is limited due to the low response rate, findings reflect the marginal status of sexuality accorded in the aged care setting and it is surmised, indicative of the low priority given to sexuality by aged care facilities over other measures of wellbeing. Findings mirror other sexuality research in residential aged care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lachesis, Office of Expertise on Aging and Gender, Eendrachtstraat 4, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Els Messelis

  2. Department of Odisee Advanced Education, University College Odisee, Brussels, Belgium

    Els Messelis

  3. Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care, Australian Institute for Primary Care and Ageing, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, 3086, Australia

    Michael Bauer

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  1. Els Messelis
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Correspondence to Michael Bauer.

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Messelis, E., Bauer, M. Sex and Intimacy Policy in Residential Aged Care Facilities in Flanders, Belgium. Sex Disabil 38, 85–93 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-019-09607-1

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