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My father has been living in his AL MC facility for around three years now. I only recently took over the role as a primary advocate. My mother passed away earlier this year. So earlier last week I saw my dad flirting and kissing multiple female residents. I spoke with the staff and they told me that is how my dad has been and they don't get complaints so it is all good. Idk this does not sit right with me, should I try to address it. My father is young and old he is 68. I know my dad has always been a ladies man. He cheated on my mom a few times so this behavior is not exactly out of pocket for him. The staff seem to be aware and okay with it. So I guess it is okay no?

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My mother has lived in MC for 4 years, now.

There is no way that she could give consent.

I would be quite upset if she were assaulted this way.

No consent = Assault

The MC MUST redirect him.
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Grandma1954 Dec 19, 2024
I am reading this that he is in AL not Memory Care. I think there would be the difference.
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I am reading this that he is in the AL portion of a facility that has both AL and MC. so I am going to comment as if he is in the AL.
I would send a note to inform his doctor that he should be tested for STD's the next time he is in for any reason. (easy to send a note if you have access to his medical Portal)
I see no need to bring up the conversation with your dad.
If there are complaints though be prepared to have this conversation. There are some family members of other residents that might not look on this so calmly.
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If an AL, then the women have the ability to say no or complain. MC, do these women know they can complain or give consent? I have already told my daughter I want no man touching me in an AL, MC or NH. If I did not like the attention before Dementia, I am not going to like it after Dementia. My Mom didn't like men after her Dementia set in.
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Not a problem for residents? Not a problem for staff?
I don't see a problem here.
I think your father has had enough losses for a lifetime if at the young age of 68 he is already in care. I would let him be unless there is a problem. Your mom is gone and cannot be hurt by this behavior now.

It is, you should understand, exceptionally common, and somewhat a comfort to my mind that special loving friendships and flirtations consider in care forever in many circumstances. Often visiting husbands of wives have to accept the new love as the one the person with dementia believes is their spouse. It takes courage, but the person is no longer the person they were known to be throughout a lifetime. As Oliver Sacks says "They have a whole entire world; it just isn't YOUR world".

This is all just my opinion and you may see it differently, but I am not certain you can DO much about that, after all?
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swmckeown76 Dec 20, 2024
My opinion: When my husband became a private-pay long-term care resident at age 59 due to frontotemporal degeneration, he would sometimes hold hands with a woman while they were watching TV or playing a game in the activity room. I told the activity director, social worker, and his unit's charge nurse that if it didn't go beyond that, fine. But if it did, remind him he was married and his wife wouldn't appreciate it. Had they allowed any hanky-panky, I would have complained to the nursing home inspection board.
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I guess I would worry less about him and more about the ladies. Is it considered consensual? If so, what can you do? If the family of the women are concerned, that’s when would intervene.
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Reply to ShirleyDot
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So my question to all of you worried about consent - what is consent? People are sexual beings and if nobody is feeling distressed by his attentions I don't think the legal definition of capacity should come into this, if two people who clearly enjoy each other's company want to flirt, canoodle or more IMO it's not something that needs to be policed. Of course there are coercive lines that might be crossed but that is different and doesn't seem to be the case here.
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From the OPs profile:

I am caring for my father, living in assisted living with alzheimer's / dementia.

Combine that with her saying he's living in "AL MC" a couple times and I think it's clear dad's in Memory Care Assisted Living. Until she clears it up, I'm going with that.

What do you mean "relationships" OP? Dad is having sexual relations with other residents in Memory Care in their rooms? If that's the case, consent cannot be given when dementia is at play. I am surprised the admin is ok with this, frankly. I feel like this WILL come back to bite you one day. One of these women will tell their loved ones she has a boyfriend or a lover and all hell will break loose.

I would not have been happy had I found out such a thing when my mother lived in Memory Care Assisted Living. Then again, she was loud and vocal and would have screamed bloody murder had a man even entered her personal air space, let alone anything else.

The other way to look at it is two adults enjoying themselves. But w/o the ability to give consent, THAT is where the potential problem lies. Your father would be better off keeping his pants zipped up, and would've been his whole life, huh?
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Fatherdrama94 Dec 19, 2024
The staff has told me it is mix. Some he is sexual with others it is just flirting and stuff. The staff told me that is not common but not uncommon for residents especially younger ones to get together.

I don't exactly like it, but on the same token what exactly can I
do? Not like talking to him will help. He does not even recognize me.
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Again, I would be calling about assault, were it my mother.

I feel like you’re being warned here, and all it would take was for a family to complain, and they might ask your Dad to leave on short notice.

I’d figure out a way to make this stop, if I were his Dad.

Again, no consent? Assault.
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Fatherdrama94 Dec 19, 2024
This is my concern I am going to call his doctor but I am worried they are not going to do much cause he has no complaints from the facility of residents.

I don't want him to be removed from his placement. My mother went through a lot to find him his current placement.
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If we were to walk into my mother’s MC, there would be no one who would take more than a few minutes to agree that NONE of the ladies in that community room could give legal consent.

It doesn’t matter if people are “having fun” , “enjoying closeness”or however we want to categorize what is going on.

No consent? Assault.
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My mom did that. No complaints. Both were happy because they could cuddle together and both were extremely happy
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TouchMatters 23 hours ago
This is your mother. It is fine to provide a personal story although this issue is so much more broader - and has legal implications. In addition, there could be trauma to the recipient of his behavior.
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