A "burden", a blessing, and worthy of belonging: discussions of disability and sexual expression in Alberta continuing care homes

Abstract

This research explores how disability is discussed and experienced in relation to sexual expression among residents living in Alberta continuing care homes. Drawing on a secondary analysis of 12 semi-structured interviews conducted between 2018 and 2019, this research applies Braun and Clarke’s (2022) reflexive thematic analysis to examine the nuanced ways residents understand, navigate, and articulate disability and sexual expression in continuing care homes. Findings reveal three central themes: 1) a paradox in which residents describe their own disabilities as burdensome while expressing acceptance of disability in others; 2) persistent tensions between the freedom of sexual expression and the structural, cultural, and interpersonal constraints of the continuing care home context; and 3) residents’ resilience and creativity in cultivating intimacy, pleasure, and connection despite these barriers. These findings call for reimagining sexual expression in continuing care through resident programming, reinvented structures, and staff training that centres disabled joy, sexual expression, and holistic wellness.