| Sensory stimulation programs are a critical component | | | | anything: holidays, seasons, cultures, religions, gender, |
| of an activity program in long-term care facilities. To | | | | hobbies, colors, celebrations, and so on. Most activity |
| have the greatest impact on your residents, sensory | | | | calendars reflect a theme or several themes |
| stimulation programs and interventions must be | | | | throughout the month and it is very simple to |
| individualized and meaningful. The two easiest and | | | | incorporate theme-related sensory into the monthly |
| effective ways of developing successful sensory | | | | calendar. There are many ways in which to gather |
| programs is by creating individualized sensory boxes | | | | items for these sensory kits: |
| and theme-related sensory kits. | | | | 1) Ask for donations (advertise: "Your junk may be |
| Individualized sensory boxes can be one of the most | | | | our treasure!") |
| effective ways to elicit responses from lower | | | | 2) Look around your office and storage areas |
| functioning residents, or residents with Alzheimer's | | | | 3) Look around your own house |
| disease or related dementias. The important thing is | | | | 4) Dollar store |
| to gather items that are of greatest interest and | | | | 5) Or you can purchase kits from Nasco, S & S |
| importance to the resident and utilize these items | | | | etc. |
| during sensory sessions. Once a sensory box is | | | | An important aspect of creating these theme-related |
| created, label it with the resident's name and | | | | sensory kits is to ensure that each kit is meaningful |
| determine the appropriate location to keep the box | | | | and appropriate for the residents. For instance, men's |
| (resident's room, nurses' station, day room, etc.) | | | | sensory programming is often challenging for activity |
| Maintaining these boxes takes commitment and | | | | professionals. The following are some examples of |
| organization, but is well worth the effort. | | | | male-oriented kits: |
| The most challenging aspect of creating these | | | | 1) Men's Kit (a general kit)o Olfactory-cologne, shoe |
| personalized sensory boxes is gathering the | | | | polish, shaving cream, woodchips (cedar, hickory, |
| appropriate materials. One way is to purchase items | | | | mesquite) etc.o Tactile-sandpaper, necktie, pocket |
| based on the resident's initial activity assessment. The | | | | watch, comb, work gloves, paintbrush, etc.o |
| dollar store is always a good option, however, some | | | | Auditory-marching or military music or favorite genre, |
| of the greatest sensory boxes I have created came | | | | sounds of nature/animals, etc.o Visual-nostalgic and |
| from items provided by family members. Not only is | | | | family photos, personal memorabilia, etc.o |
| it a wonderful way to gather unique and specific | | | | Gustatory-various food and drinks in accordance with |
| items of interest for a particular resident, but it is also | | | | the resident's dieto Kinesthetic-simple jigsaw puzzles, |
| a method of informing family members that the | | | | variety of balls, blocks of wood for sanding, etc. |
| activity department is providing specialized | | | | 2) Tool Box-fill a plastic tool box with items such as a |
| programming for their loved one. The following is an | | | | paintbrush, tape measure, large nuts/bolts, sandpaper, |
| example letter that you may send to the family | | | | different types of wood such as oak or hickory, |
| members: | | | | leveler, wood chips, etc. |
| Dear Family Member, | | | | 3) Backpack-fill a backpack with camping/hiking gear |
| The Recreation Department of (name of facility) | | | | such as a mess kit, canteen, compass, flashlight, |
| offers sensory stimulation programs, one of the | | | | binoculars, pine cones, pine aromas, etc. |
| most common types of activities found in long-term | | | | 4) Tackle Box-fill a plastic tackle box with items such |
| care facilities. Simply stated, sensory stimulation is a | | | | as fishing lures, reels, small rod, bobbers, etc. |
| technique that provides meaningful and common | | | | (remove all hooks), vanilla extract (often used on |
| smells, movements, feels, sights, sounds, and tastes | | | | hands to cover-up fishy smell) |
| through the stimulation of all six senses. There are | | | | 5) Cooler-fill a small cooler with sporting event items |
| many benefits to providing sensory stimulation such | | | | such as: water bottle, binoculars, pictures of sports |
| as increased communication, environmental | | | | teams, sunglasses, vintage beer ads, baseball cap, a |
| awareness, relaxation, cognitive stimulation, | | | | variety of small, soft sports balls (soccer ball, baseball, |
| opportunity to build a rapport, enjoyment of a leisure | | | | basketball, hockey puck, etc.). smell of popcorn, |
| experience, increased quality of life and much more. | | | | peanuts, etc. |
| We would like to offer a personalized sensory | | | | The most creative kits are created in advance and |
| stimulation program for your loved one by creating a | | | | incorporate all of the senses. The following is an |
| Sensory Box. The Sensory Box will be filled with your | | | | example of a Sensory Planning Form |
| loved ones favorite items and is generally used with | | | | Title/Theme: Fruit |
| those residents who are in the later stages of | | | | Recommended supplies, props and techniques for the |
| Alzheimer's Disease or other Dementia related | | | | following senses: |
| disorders. The box will be utilized by the staff but are | | | | Olfactory (smell): fresh fruits, fruit-scented aroma oils, |
| also a great tool for you to use during your own | | | | fruit-scented hand lotion, fruit scented candles |
| visits, making your visits more meaningful. | | | | Kinesthetic (Movement): fruit-shaped shakers, |
| We really need your assistance in organizing these | | | | squeeze a lemon to make lemonade, pull grapes off |
| personalized Sensory Boxes in order to increase your | | | | of the stems, etc. |
| loved one's quality of life. The more personal, the | | | | Tactile (Touch): variety of plastic fruits, fresh fruits |
| better! We ask that you please take a few moments | | | | (peaches especially), familiar objects with fruit designs |
| to gather some of your loved one's favorite items | | | | (towels, oven mitts etc.) |
| and bring them into the facility so we may begin this | | | | Visual (Sight): pictures of fruit, plastic fruits, fresh |
| very important project. | | | | fruits, familiar objects |
| Some suggested items include but are not limited to:o | | | | Auditory (Sound): music (In the Shade of the Old |
| Personal family photoso Favorite poems, stories, | | | | Apple Tree, Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries), |
| quotes or bookso Favorite musico Knick-knackso | | | | fruit-shaped shakers |
| Awards or achievementso Favorite perfume or | | | | Gustatory (Taste): fresh fruits, fruit juices, lemonade, |
| cologneo Religious itemso Pictures or items related to | | | | fruit Jell-O, applesauce, sherbet, fruit smoothies, fruit |
| their favorite color, recipes, season, food, hobbies | | | | pies: fruit-flavored lip balm or lemon glycerin swabs |
| etc.o Holiday memorieso Items or pictures related to | | | | for NPO |
| their former occupationo Items that identify your | | | | Sample Questions:o What is your favorite fruit?o Did |
| loved one as a special, unique persono Recorded | | | | you ever have a fruit tree? (Cherry, Peach, Apple, |
| voices of family members on a CD or cassette tapeo | | | | Pear, etc.)o Did you ever have a grape vine?o What |
| Family videos or DVD | | | | is your favorite way to eat fruit?o Have you even |
| We really hope that you can help us create a very | | | | seen an orchard? |
| individualized Sensory Box for your loved one. Please | | | | Fruit Sayings:o There's no comparing apples and |
| bring in items at your earliest convenience. It is | | | | orangeso An apple a day keeps the doctor awayo |
| important to remember that items may be lost, or | | | | You're a peacho Life is like a bowl of cherrieso The |
| damaged, so please do not bring in items that cannot | | | | apple of your eyeo She's some tomatoo That's a |
| be replaced. You may drop them off with the | | | | peachy ideao Nutty as a fruitcakeo Peachy glowo |
| receptionist or ask for me personally. I am here | | | | You're bananaso American as Apple Pieo That car is |
| (available times). If you have any questions regarding | | | | a lemono The fruit of thy womb |
| this project, please feel free to contact me at | | | | Save the day by creating these fantastic sensory |
| (phone number). Thank you! | | | | boxes and kits based on the residents' interests and |
| Sincerely, | | | | various themes. It takes some planning and |
| Your name and credentials | | | | organization at first, but if maintained and stored |
| Your title | | | | appropriately, less preparation will be needed in the |
| Theme-related sensory boxes or kits are another | | | | future. The residents will benefit from your SOS |
| creative way of providing a success-oriented sensory | | | | (success-oriented sensory program) more than you |
| program. Themes may be based on just about | | | | can imagine! |