Sex, dementia, capacity and care homes

Bartlett, Peter

Abstract

This paper addresses the appropriate legal and policy approach to sexual conduct involving people with dementia in care homes, where the mental capacity of one or both partners is compromised. Such conduct is prohibited by sections 34–42 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, but this article asks whether this blanket prohibition is necessarily the appropriate response. The article considers a variety of alternative responses, eventually arguing that clearer guidance regarding prosecution should be issued.

Citation

Bartlett, P. (2010). Sex, dementia, capacity and care homes. Liverpool Law Review, 31(2), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10991-010-9077-6

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2010
• Deposit Date: Feb 18, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 18, 2011
• Journal: Liverpool Law Review
• Print ISSN: 0144-932X
• Electronic ISSN: 1572-8625
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 2
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10991-010-9077-6
• Keywords: Sexual expression and human rights; Sexuality ; Dementia; Care homes; Senior Citizens’ homes; Capacity and sexual conduct
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1012392
• Publisher URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/eh28428144826920/