Negotiating Sexuality and Intimacy of Older Adults in Assisted Living

描述(由申请人提供)：这项为期两年的定性研究的目的是检验性行为和亲密行为是如何在辅助生活设施(ALF)中协商的。具体目标是：1)了解AL行政和护理人员、居民和居民家庭成员对居民的性行为和亲密行为的看法和知识；2)了解个人、设施和社区因素如何影响个人对居民的性和亲密行为的看法和知识；3)了解居民、家庭成员和设施管理和护理人员如何协商和管理居民的性行为和亲密行为；以及4)了解个人、设施和社区因素如何影响居民的性行为和亲密行为的谈判策略。这个项目将增加对老年人性行为的看法和知识的理解，以及如何在AL环境中管理性行为。这将有助于更多关于长期护理中性行为的研究。最后，我们希望在未来利用这项研究的结果来为员工设计有效的培训方案，并为实践提出建议。这些研究工作还将有助于通过信息会议或其他培训对居民及其家人进行干预。我们将使用定性的方法来研究10个ALF(2个16-25个床位的小型家庭，3个26-50个床位的中型家庭，5个50个以上床位的大型家庭)的性行为和亲密关系的协商。120名受访者将参加焦点小组或深度访谈。我们将使用有目的的、最大变异抽样，在8个焦点小组中选择48名参与者，由大中型家庭的AL工作人员组成。我们将与每个设施的管理人员、12名工作人员、25名家属和25名居民进行面谈。所有采访和焦点小组都将以数字方式录制和转录。数据将使用扎根的理论方法进行分析(Charmaz，2006；Strauss&Corbin，1998)。这项拟议的研究重点是辅助生活，这是一种为老年人提供的支持性住房，旨在防止或推迟为快速增长的虚弱老年人口安排养老院。这项研究关注的是围绕AL居民的性和亲密需求和行为这一敏感领域的谈判和冲突。此外，这项研究将为未来的项目提供信息，例如为AL工作人员提供有效的培训计划，以及为住院医生及其家人提供信息会议。公共卫生相关性：这项拟议的研究重点是辅助生活，这是一种为老年人提供的支持性住房，旨在防止或推迟为快速增长的虚弱老年人口安排养老院。这项研究关注的是围绕AL居民的性和亲密需求和行为这一敏感领域的谈判和冲突。此外，这项研究将为未来的项目提供信息，例如为AL工作人员提供有效的培训计划，以及为住院医生及其家人提供信息会议。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The purpose of this two-year qualitative study is to examine how sexuality and intimacy are negotiated in assisted living facilities (ALFs). The specific aims are: 1) to gain understanding of perceptions and knowledge of AL administrative and care staff, residents, and residents' family members regarding residents' sexuality and intimacy; 2) To gain understanding of how individual, facility, and community factors influence individuals' perceptions and knowledge of residents' sexuality and intimacy; 3) To gain understanding of how residents, family members, and facility administrative and care staff negotiate and manage sexual and intimate behaviors of residents; and 4) to gain understanding of how individual, facility, and community factors influence strategies for negotiation of sexual and intimate behaviors of residents. This project will provide an increased understanding of perceptions and knowledge regarding older adult sexuality and how sexuality is managed in AL settings. It will contribute to the larger body of research on sexuality in long term care. Finally, we hope to use the findings of this research in the future to design effective training programs for staff, as well as develop recommendations for practice. These research efforts also will contribute to interventions for residents and their families through information sessions or other training. We will use qualitative methods to study the negotiation of sexuality and intimacy in 10 ALFs (2 small homes with 16-25 beds, 3 medium homes with 26-50 beds, 5 large homes with over 50 beds). One hundred and twenty respondents will participate in focus groups or in-depth interviews. We will use purposive, maximum variation sampling to select 48 participants in 8 focus groups with AL staff in medium and large homes. We will conduct interviews with administrators in each facility, 12 staff members 25 family members and 25 residents. All interviews and focus groups will be digitally recorded and transcribed. Data will be analyzed using a grounded theory approach (Charmaz, 2006; Strauss & Corbin, 1998). This proposed research focuses on assisted living, a type of supportive housing for older adults, intended to prevent or delay nursing home placement for a rapidly growing frail elderly population. This study is concerned with the negotiation and conflict surrounding the sensitive area of AL residents' sexual and intimate needs and behaviors. Moreover, this research will inform future projects, such as effective training programs for AL staff and informational sessions for residents and their families. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposed research focuses on assisted living, a type of supportive housing for older adults, intended to prevent or delay nursing home placement for a rapidly growing frail elderly population. This study is concerned with the negotiation and conflict surrounding the sensitive area of AL residents' sexual and intimate needs and behaviors. Moreover, this research will inform future projects, such as effective training programs for AL staff and informational sessions for residents and their families.