STAFF AND ELDERLY KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD ELDERLY SEXUALITY

This study compared staff and elderly knowledge, attitudes, and practi ces related to sexual expression by elderly persons in a long-term car e setting. Volunteers (N = 194) responded agree or disagree to 159 ite ms. Significant differences were observed between the staff and elderl y responses on 36 items. Areas of greatest differences involved knowle dge and attitudes about consensual sex and sexual abuse, issues relate d to family attitudes toward remarraige and sexual expression, and age -related changes and health problems related to sexuality. Items relat ed to masturbation received the greatest percentage of no response. Th e staff had significantly higher total scores as compared to the elder ly reflecting more knowledge, positive attitudes, and support for more proactive responses toward elderly sexuality. Findings have major imp lications for staff training in long-term care settings.