Sexuality and Alzheimer's disease: can the two go together?

The issue of sexual relations in nursing homes between patients with Alzheimer-related dementia is in ward practice largely characterized by confusion and ignorance. Staff are seriously conflicted on how to respond and almost totally untrained on the subject. Patients are being mistreated and humiliated. Central to this state of affairs is insufficient awareness of the ethical and human rights elements in nursing care. Two case studies illustrate the practical dilemmas nurses must solve. A decision-making process is set out to reach an ethical and practical conclusion. Recommendations for action by nurses, the nursing profession, nursing home owners, and policy-makers are given.