ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to explore the ethics of sexual consent as it relates to older persons with dementia. Although many people with dementia may want to engage in sexual activities, they may be unable to consent to sex in accordance with typical consent frameworks (e.g., “no means no” or affirmative consent) because of their dementia symptoms. Consequently, their engagement in sex may be seen as both legally and ethically illicit. In response to the fact that some people with dementia may be unable to consent in typical ways, I suggest that current models of sexual consent may need to be re-conceptualized for the dementia population. I also provide an initial overview of some potential ways forward.
