The Lived Experience of Resident’s Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors among Caregivers in Long-term Care Facilities

• Main Authors: CHIU,HSIANG-CHUN, 邱湘鈞
• Other Authors: Tan,Jung-Ying
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/su3qh6

碩士 === 弘光科技大學 === 護理研究所 === 106 === Due to the changing population structure, a number of chronic conditions, and overall changes in society, the responsibility of taking care of seniors has gradually transformed from traditional family care to that of institutional care. Most elderly people are forced to leave their homes where they live with their significant others in privacy and enjoy self-reliance and move into long-term care (LTC) facilities because of their disabilities. Seniors are required to stay in a place where they lack privacy and a proper living situation with their significant others; therefore, their sexual needs, which have always been ignored by society, cannot be met. As a result, to the elderly often repress their sexual needs or may consider other residents or caregivers as the target of their sexual expression, which can thus lead to tremendous trouble for caregivers in the front line. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences and feelings of caregivers in LTC facilities with regard to the inappropriate sexual expression of elderly residents using the qualitative research method. In this study, purposive and snowball sampling was used, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were performed to gather the data of 16 caregivers from six LTC facilities in Central and Southern Taiwan regarding their experiences and feelings about the aforementioned issues. Data were collected from October to December 2014. The results can be divided into four themes: 1.The experience of caring is complex and not easy; 2. Experience is the mother of wisdom; 3. The strategies of managing conflicts and making compromises; and 4. Difficulties and expectations in caring for seniors. The results of this study show that the inappropriate sexual expression of elderly residents causes considerable trouble and suffering for caregivers. They have to learn to adjust and develop from instinctively responding to asking for assistance from other team members and to finally preventing such behaviors using specific strategies. However, caregivers believe that their workplaces have a passive attitude with regard to this condition because caregivers believe that they are not trusted by either their managers or the families of the senior residents; such a situation will surely affect their contribution and enthusiasm to work. In fact, LTC facilities should provide their employees with a safe work environment when faced with the inappropriate sexual expression of the aged residents. As these caregivers are at the front line of providing care for seniors, the effort that caregivers make is obvious in the performance of their job, and the LTC facilities should ensure that they feel valued in order to enhance their coherence, willingness to offer their abilities, and desire to continue working in this field to improve quality care for elderly residents. The results of this study can serve as a useful reference for the managers of the LTC facilities, competent authorities, and government departments concerned with the aspects of practice, education, and policy.