FutureAge Care stock a range of sensory resources, articles and training workshops relating to the facilitation of sensory programs and activities for clients. Our Workshop Presentations webpage details upcoming training for our Multisensory Health™ and Sound for Health™ therapies and our Resources include a distance learning resource for multisensory enrichment and Sensory Rooms training CD.

Sensory Deprivation is a very real challenge within aged care and long term nursing care environments and can be overlooked during day to day contact with residents. Access to the outdoors, fresh air and healthy exposure to natural light can help to reduce isolation, depression, feelings of "unwellness" and becoming sensory deprived. It is essential to keep observing for those who may be at risk and to support their healthcare needs with appropriate sensory based programs to suit their abilities, interests and cognition. Sensory impairments must also be taken into consideration.

Some of the risk factors of sensory deprivation among our residents and clients can be:

* Isolation, bed confined
* Dementia
* Non English-speaking background
* Depression
* Chronic illness
* Sensory impairment/s
* Little or no access to daily activities
* Lack of exposure to outdoors, colours, healthy sights and sounds and long term exposure to medical/sterile environments
* Nil by mouth/tube fed long term

Some of the symptoms of sensory deprivation in a person can include:

* Lower responses, or slow to respond to normal methods of stimulation or communication
* Depression
* Possible deterioration in general health
* Unusual behaviours and thoughts, or hallucinations eg talking to an imaginary person or to themselves
* Creating their own activity such as fiddling with blanket, sleeve, tissue, anything close by
* Becomes overstimulated easily, susceptible to sensory overload, overreacts to food tastes for eg
* Lack of interest in things once enjoyed
* Non responsive, non-communicating
* Vitamin D deficiency - due to indoors confinement. Pain is also a listed symptom of Vit D deficiency
* Loss of appetite

It is the role of the therapist, care staff and activities coordinators to ensure that those at risk have regular and structured access to meaningful sensory stimulation. This can be achieved with awareness of 1) Where the person spends most of their awake time, 2) What activities and sensory stimulation the person is receiving and 3) How often the person sees, hears, feels etc varied sensory stimulants such as tactile surfaces and items including human touch; the spectrum of colours; interesting smells and tastes; the outdoors; anything that we may take for granted (the human voice, human touch other than being touched during showering, toileting etc, rain, birds, fresh breeze, warm water, wet grass, pampering)...

Many adult long-term care and residential aged care facilities create either a Sensory Room or mobile Sensory programs, which can be carried out at the bedside or in the garden for eg, with a resident. Programs are usually conducted with the individual but small groups of up to 3 residents can also be achieved if appropriate. Activities can be simple in structure, such as taking your resident away from the medical, sterile environment and sitting with them in the garden, providing human companionship, reassuring voice and holding their hand.
Other simple ideas can be playing a CD of sensory sounds, ambient nature soundtrack or a talking book at the bedside of a resident. Ambient DVDs are very popular and can quickly transform the nursing environment, making it more homely and natural, more relaxed, vibrant with suitable music, colours and healthy, familiar sounds from nature. Please view some of the suggested activities on our Leisure webpage for more ideas and our free activity e-Newsletter called Empower also has some helpful articles for multisensory health within residential care. If you have a limited financial budget, we do recommend that you consider an item from the Ambient DVD range, the Waters Edge CD and the Timber Massager Pen for your resource cupboard.

Download the new resource Catalogue, Jan 2010

A sample of our sensory resources....

Exploring the Sensory Room is a 25 minute presentation that explores the benefits, planning and implementation of a Sensory Room/Snoezelen Room, or mobile sensory environment at your facility.

With a range of ideas, themes, creative suggestions and examples to consider, be inspired and have your own senses tantalised with an example of audio sound effects and concept ideas. Learn how to confidently create a multi-sensory environment for use with your frail elderly residents, people with dementia, and those experiencing anxiety or depression.

Multi-sensory environments allow your residents to continue enjoying the pleasures, stimulation and experiences of everyday life, holidays, nature, weather elements, seasons and much more. These specifically designed environments can enhance life, provide avenues for therapies, promote areas away from a sterile, medical environment and much more.

Exploring the Sensory Room CD is inspiring and informative and comes with a bonus track of special ambient sound samples and music portions to spark your multisensory thinking. Price: $26.00

Audio Sample

JOYA™ Massager Pen for therapeutic touch, gentle massage & sensory activity.

It literally is like working with a pen - this beautifully crafted massaging pen from Germany is ideal for sensory touch programs with clients who may benefit from the sensation of the smooth Rose Quartz gemstone rolling gently on their body. This pen is a unique tool that engages in therapeutic touch experiences between you and your client.

The diagram shows how the timber JOYA™ pens can be used on various parts of the body, including frail areas such as hands with arthritis and frail shoulders (check with client/health considerations first). This small massager pen can provide gentle and soothing relief from aches and pains with the freely rotating gemstone that is set into the top of the pen. The freely rotating crystal can be rolled with the pen onto direct skin or on top of clothing: the second option of which is ideal for those with very fragile skin.

The crystal gemstone feels cool to the skin and you can also gently heat it in warm water for warmth to the skin in the cooler months.

JOYA™ have created the Professional Massager Pen, which is made of white composite mineral, which is safe to clean thoroughly and sterilise. This is the same substance that is used for commercial and industrial bench tops and hospital grade areas that require thorough sterilisation.

We have been using the professional pen with the rose quartz crystal with a client with Binswangers Dementia and she has enjoyed a lifestyle of beauty pampering and massage for many years. We also use the pens with younger clients with a brain injury and multiple disability diagnosis, as well as the frail elderly. Of course, the pen can also be used with staff! We stock the JOYA™ Professional Pen and the cheaper Timber Pen - each comes with the Rose Quartz Gemstone.

Your Kit is accompanied by a booklet on using the pen and a tote bag to keep the pen stored. We have also included some additional information to help you get started with your client or residents.

Important information: for use with clients where the pen needs to be thoroughly sterilised after each use and/or if using with aromatherapy oil for eg - we recommend the Professional Pen (white). For clients where you are not using with oils and are using over their clothes, or where thorough sterilisation is not essential - we recommend the Timber Pen (brown) which can still be cleaned.

Testimonials: "I use the Joya Pens every week with my clients. I work with clients with traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities and also the elderly, including those with dementia. The Joya pen is good for hands with stiff joints, spasticity and arthritis because it is gentle and I can control the amount of pressure I use. For clients who experience stiff neck and shoulders from wheelchair restriction and physical impairments, the Joya pen is a real treat and it’s very soothing and relaxing.

Some of my clients are “handled” physically for showering and toilet assistance every day and the Joya experience brings back some nurturing touch and tender sensory encounters. Before music activities, I use the Joya pen to help open up the palms of the hand so that a client can hold an instrument and participate. One client is really surprised that she can open her hand and hold things!

If there are cross contamination concerns I use the Joya Professional Pen, because it can be sterilised thoroughly. I keep a Joya pen with me everywhere I go and the value it brings to my therapies with clients is so real and is genuinely a great experience!" - Jennifer Freeman – Diversional Therapist, FutureAge Care.

The JOYA™ Professional Pen Kit is $125 and the Timber Pen Kit is only $65.