The Use of Humor in Addressing the Sexuality of Elderly Nursing Home Residents

This paper is drawn from a large phenomenologically based study which investigated the nursing home carers' experiences of elderly residents' sexuality. Joking and teasing with the residents was an acknowledged way for staff to deal with sexuality in the nursing home. Whilst humor can be used in a therapeutic way to establish and maintain rapport, as well as to deal with incidents which are uncomfortable, joking is also known to be an effective way to manipulate and control people. Teasing can be used as an effective strategy to discourage certain types of behavior.