[jlsRN]

Originally Posted by LovebugLPN

I worked in a local catholic LTC facility and the Sisters and Monsingers (sp) who years before seemed so refined became very sexually frustrated when dementia hit. I would have rather they had "toys" then some of the things they used. At least you would have known what to avoid. You never knew what you could touch in those rooms. Yuck!

Hmmmm, interesting. Maybe, in fact, they had been secretly indulging most of their adult lives?

[LovebugLPN]

I'm just glad I am not catholic. Both my parents were preachers and I don't hide that I am a freak.

[earle58]

i have no problems w/adults satisfying their sexual needs.
but i do not feel it is the nurse's job to go and purchase these 'assistive devices'.
for crying out loud, toss a banana her way and be done with it.
sheesh.

leslie

[kiyasmom]

I think when we start thinking about people in LTC we normally don't expect to have to care for their sexual needs. I think it is perfectly healthy for people of advanced age to have sexual needs and I commend the state or the facility for recognizing this resident's needs and acting on meeting them. As for purchasing the toy, well, personally it wouldn't have bothered me (I'm silly and would have joked about it. Imagine the looks on the salespeople face when I said, "It's not mine, I'm buying it for a LOL that lives at the facility I work at." They wouldn't believe me but it would illicit quite a few chuckles. Now they probably can be obtained online or in a more discreet manner but I am just personally glad that this resident will be able to maintain her self in a safe and acceptable way.

As for keeping it clean and sanitary, I don't really see a problem with that either. It's no different than any other intervention we may have. I am much more grossed out at the thought of straight cathing a person q shift knowing they are getting off on it than cleaning a toy.

[jlsRN]

Originally Posted by earle58

i have no problems w/adults satisfying their sexual needs.
but i do not feel it is the nurse's job to go and purchase these 'assistive devices'.
for crying out loud, toss a banana her way and be done with it.
sheesh.

leslie

Er, wouldn't a cuke be straighter, thicker, and firmer???

[Gr8Dane]

Got a good laugh from this thread heh I might have to try LTC out if entertaining stuff like this happens. Most entertainment I get is our young patients getting their significant others a bit to close in bed or in the bathroom.

[cotjockey]

I think buying it is more of a social service director's job...or maybe activities director. I actually do have a bit of an issue with staff needing to clean the toys...it seems to me that if they are capable of using the device, they are capable of cleaning the device. They certainly have the right to satisfy their sexual needs, but we should not be responsible for satisfying them.

I used to work in a facility that had a resident who wanted staff to massage his penis until he had an orgasm...that was way over the top and they lost a lot of staff over it. I always thought that it bordered on abuse...the resident and his family could have easily accused staff of being inappropriate.

[txspadequeen921]

Originally Posted by Bocephus71RN-BSN

maybe she was just wanting to put the statue in a safe place so it wouldn't get stolen?

[txspadequeen921]

We are sexual beings and as nurses should expect this type of behavior from time to time from our patients....Dementia patients are no different they just cannot communicate their needs as well...Give her something safe to use for heavens sake then give her some privacy. When my time comes it better be in my admission pack.....

[canoehead]

People get so uptight over sex you would think they'd never done it themselves.

txspadequeen has the right idea- perhaps we should petition JCAHO to require a sexual needs assessment with every admission, and provide appropriate tools to each patient. I know a lot of ER folks would want an admission if they knew they'd get a free vibrator out of it.

(can you imagine the patient teaching sessions? "Demo by nurse and return demo observed with good technique....")