Couples' Privacy in Residential Aged Care

Title
Couples' Privacy in Residential Aged Care
Publication Date
2017-11
Author(s)
Rahn, Alison
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7572-5749
Email: arahn4@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:arahn4
Bennett, Cary
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4820-075X
Email: cbenne30@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:cbenne30
Jones, Tiffany
Lykins, Amy
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2930-3964
Email: alykins@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:alykins
Editor
Editor(s): Elissa Burton and Keith Hill
Type of document
Conference Publication
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Curtin University
Place of publication
Perth, Australia
UNE publication id
une:-20180103-173927
une:-20180103-173927
Abstract
Currently, a third of Australian aged care residents are partnered, with many experiencing institutional interference in their relationships. Staff duty of care usually takes precedence over privacy. Some institutions separate couples; residents' doors may be kept open; staff enter without knocking, ignore 'do not disturb' signs, or gossip about residents; all of which make privacy a challenge. This paper reports on findings from an online survey into the needs of partnered Baby Boomers (born 1946-65) and the levels of privacy that they anticipate they will require to maintain their primary relationships in residential aged care facilities. At a time marked by a policy shift towards consumer-directed residential aged care, it is pertinent to understand the needs of this subset of future consumers. Our research found that the majority of respondents expected to remain sexual indefinitely, considered physical intimacy with their partners essential to their wellbeing, and required a high degree of privacy to maintain their relationships. Respondents were asked to rate seven domains of privacy. Those considered most important were visual privacy, private space, and bodily privacy. This paper outlines various ways for service providers to prepare for the next generation of consumers, initiatives that would enable residents and their families to make informed decisions when choosing a facility, potentially improving the experiences of both residents and staff.
Link
Citation
Digging for gold: Building success in ageing research, p. 49-51
Start page
49
End page
51

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink