Men with long-term conditions demand better social care

The social care sector needs to focus on gender-specific social and sexual needs when looking after men with debilitating long-term health conditions, a new study has found.

Researchers at the University of Bristol (UK) looked at the views of 20 men, aged from 21 to 33, who have Duchenne muscular dystrophy – a life-limiting neuromuscular disease which gradually causes the muscles to weaken.

The study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Social Care Research (SSCR), reveals that men sometimes found that social care took no account of their male gender and they wanted more support with social activities and sexual relationships.

Find the study at: http://www.sscr.nihr.ac.uk/PDF/Findings/RF48.pd