Sensory therapy in dementia care

Sensory therapy has been used in relation to dementia patients and their care for some time now. There are many benefits to using sensory therapy in dementia patients as well as in relation to other brain injuries. This type of therapy is known to decrease anxiety in the patient and to help to calm them down. It also helps to give the patient a way in which to express themselves which can be crucial as the disease progresses and the ability to communicate diminishes. 

Giving dementia patients an outlet and a way to express themselves can support their wellbeing as well as their mood, and can encourage patients memories, while helping them to participate and feel involved. If you are dealing with a dementia patient who no longer has the ability to communicate, giving them a sensory activity can help to make them feel more secure while boosting their confidence. 

What does sensory therapy involve?

Sensory therapy involves activities which help to stimulate the brain, as well as using one or more of the senses. It helps the dementia patient to connect the sense to the activity, as well as engaging their brain, which can lead to some form of response, perhaps a nonverbal one if they have lost the ability to speak. 

Sensory therapy can include looking at photos, introducing materials which the dementia patient can touch and feel, familiar smells or foods which have a meaning for them and that they can relate to. 

Light therapy

This involves sitting in front of a bright light box for up to 2 hours in the morning during winter months. Bright light therapy is thought to help improve sleep issues, as well as reducing wandering. The patient is given a daily 30 minute lightbox therapy session, in particular during the dark winter months. The therapy helps to reset the body’s natural circadian rhythm which is our body’s natural way of setting our body clock and getting us to sleep. It is thought that if we do not get enough daylight hours, then our bodies struggle to settle into a good sleeping pattern. As dementia patients experience reduced mobility levels, they tend to spend less time outside in natural light and so their sleeping patterns become interrupted. This therapy is mostly undertaken in the winter months, as light therapy has been shown not to be as successful in the summer months.

Music therapy

Music is known to have a calming or soothing effect and can help to reduce a dementia patient’s anxiety, while encouraging them to engage and take part in the therapy session. Music can also act as a way of encouraging non-verbal communication from the patient, should they be unable to talk. They can express themselves through making sounds. We cover music therapy in more detail here.

Sense/touch therapy

Interesting results from research have shown that a hand massage can help keep a dementia patient calm for up to an hour after the activity. The power of touch has a positive impact on the patient, promoting wellbeing and reducing stress. The lasting impact is that for those patients who may have lost the ability to speak they feel more confident and secure which reduces feelings of anxiety. We cover more details on how to keep a dementia patient calm here.