Citation

Grigorovich A, Kontos P. Can. J. Aging 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-11.

Affiliation

Toronto Rehab Institute-University Health Network.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Cambridge Press)

DOI

10.1017/S0714980819000199

PMID

30992088

Abstract

ABSTRACTSupporting sexual rights in residential long-term care is ethically complex. The well-being of care workers and residents is inextricably linked, and increasingly recognized empirically, yet public policy in Canada generally continues to exclusively focus on either the well-being of residents or workers. The consequences of this are particularly evident when we consider how to prevent sexual harassment towards workers without unjustly restricting the freedom of sexual expression for residents living with dementia. Employing Carol Bacchi's "What's the Problem Represented to be?" approach, we critically analysed a recent Canadian action plan to prevent sexual violence and harassment. Our analysis suggests that this policy is less than promising and may reproduce the very phenomenon it is intended to redress. The need to refocus prevention efforts on the structural factors implicated in this phenomenon is urgent if we are to support the sexual rights of both care workers and residents.

Language: en

Keywords

aging; dementia; droits sexuels; démence; politique publique; public policy; relationality; relationnalité; sexual rights; travailleur; vieillissement; worker