Sex in a LTC...is this ok?

[AKAnurse4]

A really close girlfriend of mine who is a new grad works in a LTC Facility on the 11p-7a shift. While doing her rounds she walks in on two residents having sexual intercourse.she didn't stop she simply walked out the room in shock. Was she suppose to say something or is this allowed? There was no record of either of them having a spouse that was in the LTC so we know they weren't married...is this allowed in hospitals? I'm a new grad as well and never heard of this being OK..

[casi, ASN, RN]

If they are both able to give consent then its fine! You dont lose your right to have sex because you need ltc.

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

agree w/ casi. the ltc i used to work in had 2 or 3 "couples".

[tewdles, RN]

us old folks have needs too...

your ltc is their home so, I suppose "neighborly" activities are generally encouraged...

[roser13, ASN, RN]

LTC is home for its residents. Most people do have sex in their homes.

As long as both residents are capable of giving consent, why not?

[headinsandRN]

No foul

Besides, Maslow says people need it

[Anoetos, BSN, RN]

Why wouldn't it be ok? If there's consent?

[AKAnurse4]

What about hospitals ?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

As long as the resident is alert and oriented x3 and able to consent, he/she absolutely has the right to have sexual intercourse, and the facility must provide an area where the deed can be done in privacy.

Two of my elderly residents met at the nursing home where I was once employed. He was a widower and she was a widow, but they fell in love and had a small wedding inside the nursing home's lobby.

They shared a bed at night and a few of the CNAs had accidentally walked in on them as they were making whoopie.

[Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN]

Hehehe. When I read this post I immediately thought of Chris Rock saying "there is NO sex in the Champaign Room!"

All joking aside, In the LTC setting, you're basically working in their home. Sex is healthy, and if they are able to give consent I say let them have fun. It will save you having to give them anxiety medications later on in the shift. You may have to give them something for pain, though!

It's best just to turn around, walk out, and shut the door. The good thing about LTC is you'll know the residents well after awhile, and you'll know who is capable of giving consent.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

What about hospitals ?

What about them? Can people have sex in hospitals?

No doubt it happens all the time. But you can't compare a hospital situation to an LTC.

Hospital issues that come to mind are: spread of infection, privacy, and more prevalent (hopefully) staff presence than in an LTC setting. Then there's the whole issue of hospital patients having an acute medical or surgical condition, limiting (one would suppose) their desire to have sex..

The only sex I've ever observed/heard about on an acute care floor is when girlfriend/boyfriend come to visit the patient. And yes, they "do it" so to speak with a roommate on the other side of the curtain.

[Nurse Kyles, BSN, RN]

A really close girlfriend of mine who is a new grad works in a LTC Facility on the 11p-7a shift. While doing her rounds she walks in on two residents having sexual intercourse.she didn't stop she simply walked out the room in shock. Was she suppose to say something or is this allowed? There was no record of either of them having a spouse that was in the LTC so we know they weren't married...is this allowed in hospitals? I'm a new grad as well and never heard of this being OK..

I cannot see any of the replies so I'm sorry if my reply is redundant. I have always been taught that in a LTC facility that this is the persons home. In Maslow's Hierarchy of needs sex is one of the basic physiologic needs. Whether they are married or not, they have the right to participate in sexual intercourse if they so choose. I think the only time that you should intervene is if one of the participants is being victimized in some way. Just my two cents.