|
Snoezelen®
Environments and Individuals
who are Elderly and Confused
Snoezelen®
environments have been found to be
both stimulating and soothing for
individuals who suffer from Alzheimer's
disease and related dementia. It has
been observed that the Snoezelen®
environment may:
- stimulates
the primary senses - sight, sound,
smell and touch.
- be
calming and relaxing.
- encourage
and/or increase physical movement
and range of motion .
- has
a positive affect on the individual
and staff, and may encourage physical
contact, eye contact and sharing
about the environment.
- decrease
the pressures of the usual daily
experiences or environment, as the
Snoezelen® environments allows individuals
to observe, interact with and control
the environment..
- allow
the individuals to explore, to develop,
and to make choices, resulting in
opportunities to control their environment.
- be
an experience that can be shared
with and may increase their rapport
with their families.
- increase
awareness of their surroundings
for some individuals, after spending
time in the Snoezelen® environment.
- increase
staff/care providers awareness of
the importance of the primary senses
and encourages them to incorporate
these into other areas a daily living.
- decrease
restlessness and wandering (one
half hour in the Snoezelen® environment
may decrease wandering for up to
4 hours).
In
Elisa Cohen's article about the Snoezelen®
room in the Merwick Unit of The Medical
Centre at Princeton she states that:
"Snoezelen®
rooms do not reverse the progression
of Alzheimer's or other forms of
dementia. However, the therapy is
very goal orientated. If being in
a Snoezelen® room for a half hour
each day helps a patient feel less
fearful, less stressed, calmer and
more relaxed, then the quality of
that person's life has been increased
that day."
Helpful
Hints:
- approach
is important, be positive and gentle,
individuals should feel safe and
non-threatened.
- keep
the initial contact with the room
as normal and positive as possible,
i.e. keep main lights on and/or
gradually decrease lights, gradually
introduced the various equipment,
build on the environment slowly/gradually.
- length
of time in the room will vary dependent
upon the individual.
- avoid
having the Snoezelen® room become
a place the hold people, rather
than a sensory environment.
- be
aware of the individual, their wants,
likes, needs. Observe reactions
carefully, record and discuss with
others who need to know or may be
better able to assist the individual
by knowing the information.
- mirrors
may be distracting and/or may increase
confusion or anxiety for some individuals.
- mirror
balls and spot lights may cause
mixed reactions, i.e. nausea or
dizziness.
- encourage
individuals to make choices and
explore.
- music
that is well known to the participants
may be distracting and take away
from the environment, more meditative
type music may create a more peaceful
and calming atmosphere.
- aromas
add to the environment. Effective
scents are lavender, peppermint
and orange, but this will vary by
individual. Different scents and
combinations of scents invoke different
responses.
- textures
may add to the environment, i.e.
a flannel sheet, fuzzy stuffed toy,
may be soothing for some individuals.
- when
ending a Snoezelen® session do so
gradually, allow individuals to
move at their own pace.
- enjoy
the experience yourself.
- provide
opportunity for staff training and/or
staff exploration of the environment
before their working with individuals
in the area.
Sources
of Information:
Cohen, Elisa. - Alzheimer's patients
find respite in Snoezelen® rooms, The
Medical Center at Princeton, Princeton
Packet OnLine Health News, January
29, 1999.
Davis-Kramp,
Annette. - Snoezelen® on a Shoestring
Budget, Medina County Board of MRDD,
Medina, Ohio, 1999.
Pinkley,
Lesley. Snoezelen® - An Evaluation
of a Sensory Environment Used by People
who are Elderly and Confused, King's
Park Community Hospital,1993, and
School of Occupational Therapy and
Physiotherapy, Southampton University.
|
