Perception of caregivers regarding the sexuality of older adults in a long-term care facility

Longevity, although a relevant aspect of human achievement, still brings unknown dynamics between the older person and their world, particularly in what regards to issues related to sexuality, which faces social stigmas. This study aims to analyze the perception of caregivers about the sexuality and sexual autonomy of the older adults in a Long-Term Care Institution. This a descriptive and exploratory study, with a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the caregivers, followed by Content Analysis by Laurence Bardin. The perceptions of the caregivers are permeated by social stigmas and sociocultural beliefs, expressed, for example, in the difficulty of defining the word sexuality, association between senility and senescence, denial of sexuality in aging, perpetuation of patterns of paternalism and infantilization of the older adult, in addition to conflicts between institutional rules and religious views of family and marriage.