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People living with dementia can feel increasingly isolated, frustrated and unhappy as they lose understanding of the world around them. Exposure to soothing sensory environments can provide much-needed relief.
A sensory room allows people living with Alzheimer's or dementia to stimulate the five senses in a safe environment. The goal is to provide entertainment and stimulation that is free from cognitive demands. 'Snoezelen Rooms' were developed for this purpose in the 1970s and have become popular worldwide.
Sensory rooms often include things like:
Sensory rooms can offer a multitude of benefits for people living with dementia. This includes:
Based on the notion that our world is a blend of smells, tastes, sound, and palpable experiences, why not endeavor to extend the sensory experience beyond the limits of a single room? See what can be done to enhance the whole environment and make it a place where sensory care is revealed in the walls, doors, garden, bathrooms and corridors.
An extended sensory environment could provide a variety of meaningful activities that calm and soothe residents, and assist in re-directing anger and other unwanted behaviors.
Here are a few suggestions to enhance the sensroy environment at your facility:
Do you have a sensory room at your facility? What has worked well for your clients & what differences in mood and behaviour have you noticed?
Sometimes we will have Pamper time in the sensory room also and families love to sit in the Sensory Room with their loved one.