Guidelines on sexuality and intimacy in dementia: systematic review and intersectional analysis

Sexuality and intimacy are vital to the quality of life for people with dementia and should be incorporated into holistic dementia care guidelines. This systematic review aimed to (1) provide an overview of existing guidelines on sexuality and intimacy in dementia care and (2) analyse how these guidelines address intersectional needs within the dementia care triad.

We reviewed guidelines that (1) focus on improving care for the entire dementia care triad, and (2) address sexuality and intimacy. The search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and grey literature (Google search) in April 2024.

572 references were identified. 81 full texts were screened and 24 references were included. Nine references were included from scientific databases. The grey literature search located an additional 15 references. No guidelines specifically addressed people with dementia. Intersections of dementia with age, gender, and sexual orientation were most frequently discussed.

Guidelines primarily target healthcare and social care professionals, while policy documents, clinical guidance, and professional development resources focus more on guidance for informal carers. Future research should adopt an intersectional approach to address the diverse needs of the entire dementia care triad, especially people with dementia themselves.