From 'support' to 'separate': residential aged care staff responses to an intimate relationship involving a resident with cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND

Intimate relationships are important throughout life but can be complicated in later years if a person develops cognitive impairment and moves into residential aged care. The aim of this research was to elucidate the ways in which residential aged care staff would intervene in an intimate relationship between residents when a resident has cognitive impairment, and their motivations for intervening.

METHODS

This was an exploratory study. Vignette methodology was employed depicting a hypothetical case of a relationship between two residents (one who has cognitive impairment). A national postal survey was sent to all residential aged care facilities in Australia. Thematic analysis was performed on responses (N = 515) to open-ended questions regarding how staff would intervene and motivations for doing so.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis identified six key themes emerging from the data related to staff responses: communicating; educating; respecting; monitoring; distracting; and separating. Each of these themes is illustrated by participant quotes. Participants largely did not report motivations for responding in the ways identified.

CONCLUSIONS

There is considerable variability in residential aged care staff responses to an intimate relationship between residents when one resident has cognitive impairment. Intimate relationships between residents can be supported or prevented as a result.