[Sexuality of elderly people living in CHSLDs in Quebec, between neglect and recognition]

Despite the popular belief that sexuality disappears with age, research shows that it is an important focus for many people over 60. Contemporary realities observed among this population reveal real needs for affection and sexual desires that translate into various practices. This does not exclude residents of long-term care centres (CHSLD). However, a certain number of barriers to the expression of sexuality by elderly people in institutions keep the staff and the residents themselves in the perception of implicit asexuality. Since the mission of a CHSLD is to provide a temporary or permanent substitute living environment whose guiding principles relating to integrity, freedom and dignity help to prevent phenomena often associated with collective residential environments, the protection of personal spaces is a first step in recognising residents' sexual needs.