"If you do not find the world tasty and sexy, you are out of touch with the most important things in life": Resident and family member perspectives on sexual expression in continuing care

Over the past three decades, there has been growing attention to sexual expression in continuing care homes. However, resident perspectives continue to be underrepresented, particularly in the Canadian context. In this article, we share findings from a qualitative, exploratory study looking at the experiences of residents and family members in Alberta, Canada. As continuing care demographics and social norms about sexuality shift, it is increasingly important to understand these perspectives. We asked participants about how they define sexual expression, its place in continuing care, their experiences with/thoughts about sexual expression in care homes, and suggestions for how to improve this aspect of resident life. We heard diverse accounts of what sexual expression can look like in continuing care homes, the importance of resident autonomy, how privacy matters, complex communication dynamics, and challenges with distinguishing between appropriate and inappropriate expressions. These findings foreground the voices of residents and family members and highlight key areas of opportunity for policy and practice change.