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As we age, it can be easy to believe that our love lives are over and done with—but that’s not the case! At one aged care facility in the southern village of Broby, Sweden, there’s an innovative idea proving that older adults can enjoy equal rights to intimacy and romance.

The aged care home, Lindgarden, offers a ‘love-making guide’ and a 'pleasure basket' containing items like penis pumps and dildos, creams and lubricants, and even a 'Please Do Not Disturb' sign.

With 56 residents aged 65 and over, Lindgarden is making sure everyone finds whatever joy they’re seeking. Their aim is to 'allow the individual to remain an individual even when moving into a nursing home'.

The idea originated with the home’s director, 54-year-old Liselott Klang, who wanted her employees to feel comfortable when encountering intimate situations.

The program is one of the first of its kind. Image Credit: Shutterstock

'Previously, employees didn't feel comfortable when they saw a resident masturbating in public or really couldn't understand why someone needed help booking a hotel room,' Klang explained.

And so, a year ago, Lindgarden put together their ‘pleasure basket’ and a programme on how to lead a healthy sex life.

'We have to be able to explain and demonstrate things, like how to hold the catheters in order to be able to have sex,' Klang said.

Emilie Nilsson, a 39-year-old care assistant, was initially apprehensive.

'It was a bit scary at first,' she said.

'But the more you work on it, the more you understand that it’s not just about sex. It’s about closeness and that everyone needs a hug.'

'So now it's all very natural.' she continued.

The aged care home recently held an informal discussion on intimacy and desire for someone who had just moved in.

'The counsellor has a conversation with the client and asks him or her some of the questions we’ve established about sexual health,' Klang explained.

The aged care home also brought in sexologist Suzann Larsdotter to train all the staff on the topic.

'The issue has been invisible for years but is now gradually gaining ground in the country,' she said.

'It's a new phenomenon, especially in an ageist society like Sweden where seniors are often left out. But there is more and more awareness that sexual health is a right,' Larsdotter continued.

Speaking of the program, Klang said, 'It can take weeks between the first conversation and the moment when they dare to come and talk more about it.’

'But often these become deep discussions where one can talk about grief, loss or longing for a missing partner.'

'Sexual health is not just about sex, it’s about intimacy,' Klang said.

Key Takeaways

• A Swedish care home now offers a ‘love-making guide’ for seniors and a 'pleasure basket' full of sex aids.
• The guide focuses on explaining and demonstrating activities such as how to hold catheters to be able to have sex.
• Sexual health among older and disabled people is an issue gradually gaining recognition in many Western countries, with initiatives like these aiming to address the topic.
• The initiative has been met with positive reactions and deep discussions, despite some initial apprehension and shyness.

But it’s not all serious; the Lindgarden residents and Klang have found a light-hearted side.
97-year-old resident Nils skimmed through a brochure on sex and desires among seniors, exclaiming, 'It's a good book!'

Klang added: 'Each generation thinks that its generation is the most sexually active, the one with the most desire,' she said with a chuckle.

Sex and pleasure don’t have to be out of the question for seniors. The team at Lindgarden are proving that it’s never too late to feel desired or have a little fun.

What do you think about this? Would you like to see something like this implemented in aged care homes across Australia? Let us know in the comments below.

 

[Iggydi]

What a great idea. Just because you are not young doesn't mean you are dead. It must be hard for some older people to open up about sex and intimacy because it wasn't out in the open for them like it is is now.

 

[Gsr]

I worked in two different aged care homes and both were open to the clients forming relationships with other clients. Some were sexual based, not sure how much sex ever happened but it wasn’t from a lack of trying by the clients, and some were just different levels of companionship. Clients were always given privacy when wanted by having Do Not Disturb signs available to hang on their doors. It was heartwarming to see these relationships add to the quality of life for the clients. Could get a bit tricky when dementia clients formed relationships within the facility while they were still married to someone else who did not live in the facility. One wife was very upset when she found her husband in bed fully clothed, having a cuddle, with another lady on an unexpected visit to the facility. However, she did come to accept that her husband in his dementia did not realise that he was hurting her, he didn’t remember he had a wife when she wasn’t around and was seeking comfort in his friendship with the other lady who was always around.

 

[Shane/#]

​

As we age, it can be easy to believe that our love lives are over and done with—but that’s not the case! At one aged care facility in the southern village of Broby, Sweden, there’s an innovative idea proving that older adults can enjoy equal rights to intimacy and romance.

The aged care home, Lindgarden, offers a ‘love-making guide’ and a 'pleasure basket' containing items like penis pumps and dildos, creams and lubricants, and even a 'Please Do Not Disturb' sign.

With 56 residents aged 65 and over, Lindgarden is making sure everyone finds whatever joy they’re seeking. Their aim is to 'allow the individual to remain an individual even when moving into a nursing home'.

The idea originated with the home’s director, 54-year-old Liselott Klang, who wanted her employees to feel comfortable when encountering intimate situations.

View attachment 27945

The program is one of the first of its kind. Image Credit: Shutterstock

'Previously, employees didn't feel comfortable when they saw a resident masturbating in public or really couldn't understand why someone needed help booking a hotel room,' Klang explained.

And so, a year ago, Lindgarden put together their ‘pleasure basket’ and a programme on how to lead a healthy sex life.

'We have to be able to explain and demonstrate things, like how to hold the catheters in order to be able to have sex,' Klang said.

Emilie Nilsson, a 39-year-old care assistant, was initially apprehensive.

'It was a bit scary at first,' she said.

'But the more you work on it, the more you understand that it’s not just about sex. It’s about closeness and that everyone needs a hug.'

'So now it's all very natural.' she continued.

The aged care home recently held an informal discussion on intimacy and desire for someone who had just moved in.

'The counsellor has a conversation with the client and asks him or her some of the questions we’ve established about sexual health,' Klang explained.

The aged care home also brought in sexologist Suzann Larsdotter to train all the staff on the topic.

'The issue has been invisible for years but is now gradually gaining ground in the country,' she said.

'It's a new phenomenon, especially in an ageist society like Sweden where seniors are often left out. But there is more and more awareness that sexual health is a right,' Larsdotter continued.

Speaking of the program, Klang said, 'It can take weeks between the first conversation and the moment when they dare to come and talk more about it.’

'But often these become deep discussions where one can talk about grief, loss or longing for a missing partner.'

'Sexual health is not just about sex, it’s about intimacy,' Klang said.

Key Takeaways

• A Swedish care home now offers a ‘love-making guide’ for seniors and a 'pleasure basket' full of sex aids.
• The guide focuses on explaining and demonstrating activities such as how to hold catheters to be able to have sex.
• Sexual health among older and disabled people is an issue gradually gaining recognition in many Western countries, with initiatives like these aiming to address the topic.
• The initiative has been met with positive reactions and deep discussions, despite some initial apprehension and shyness.

But it’s not all serious; the Lindgarden residents and Klang have found a light-hearted side.
97-year-old resident Nils skimmed through a brochure on sex and desires among seniors, exclaiming, 'It's a good book!'

Klang added: 'Each generation thinks that its generation is the most sexually active, the one with the most desire,' she said with a chuckle.

Sex and pleasure don’t have to be out of the question for seniors. The team at Lindgarden are proving that it’s never too late to feel desired or have a little fun.

What do you think about this? Would you like to see something like this implemented in aged care homes across Australia? Let us know in the comments below.

Good on them well done

 

[Glenys R]

One is never too old until they put the lid on - on the coffin that is!