How to Run Sensory Groups in Residential

Care

Session Content

What are the senses?

Sensory deprivation

Why run sensory groups / who would benefit from attending?

Basic assumptions of sensory groups

What are the senses?

General 5 senses:

Visual

Auditory

Olfactory

Tactile

Gustatory

Not commonly thought of senses:

Vestibular

Proprioception

Tactile / Touch sense

Touch receptors in the skin

3 Functions of the touch receptors are

1) temperature

2) pain

3) vibration

Function is protective and discriminative

Tactile / Touch sense continued

Light touch Sensory receptors close to the skin’s surface/hair

Often a faster response than with deep touch

May provoke strong emotional response

Deep touch Receptors are further under the surface of the skin

Can be very calming

Auditory Sense:

Directly inter connected with the vestibular system and muscle tone

Evokes memories and feelings by association

Used for:

Entertainment

Helps ease transitions, reduce stress

Decrease or increase levels of arousal

Olfaction / Smell:

Primitive, protective and powerful!

Directly connected to the limbic system (emotional centres of the brain)

Vision:

Light is activating

Peripheral vision is often alerting (primal response) – link to muscle tone

Try to avoid approaching people with visual impairments from the sides – verbalise your approach.

Clarify with residents with visual impairments exactly what they can see so that you can tailor visual stimulation to their needs.

Gustatory – Taste / Oral motor

Chewy, crunchy, salty, sour, sweet, spicy, hot and cold

Coordination of movements and muscle tone enable ability to eat, swallow and suck.

People seek oral motor stimulation to help with comfort, attention and overall organization.

A little bit about Proprioception:

Proprioception is your bodies sense of where you are in space and how your body is moving

A little bit about the Vestibular sense:

Stimulated through the delicate structures of the inner ear.

Stimulated through changes in position and movement.

Examples of vestibular dysfunction

Hypersensitivity to movement

Hyposensitivity to movement

The most important thing to remember…

People seek what they need, in any way then can - this can be in a

positive way or a negative way

Sensory Deprivation

Acquired syndrome Could be due to normal age related sensory changes and pathological

conditions and/or institutionalisation. I.e. residents with an impairment in any of the main senses who

cannot compensate adequately for their lost senses (i.e. due to decreased cognition)

Consequences of sensory deprivation:

Residents can try to provide their own stimulation to compensate

If a person is not able to sufficiently provide the stimulation they need – withdrawal and quicker decline in cognitive function can sometimes be charted.

What is a sensory group or sensory based intervention?

Address all 5 senses where able in a sequence

Has a theme to the group that is accessible to the participants.

Importance of taste for people who are PEG fed should not be underestimated.

Basic assumptions of sensory group

Neuroplasticity can occur, new brain cells can grow even in late stage dementia and neurological disease.

Activity should be relevant, meaningful and stimulating Repetition of activity is necessary for learning Carry over can be achieved – benefits can last more than the duration

of the session

Individual sensory stimulation

If you have residents that are unable or unwilling to come out of their room, then you can bring the activity to them = one to one sensory stimulation.

Also consider bringing another resident into the room with you and do the stimulation with the two residents simultaneously (ensure that this will not cause anxiety for the residents who's room it is.

Why run a sensory group / who would benefit from attending?

Provide a range of stimuli for residents in a manner that is accessible to them.

Prevent sensory deprivation

Prevent neglect by omission

WHO WOULD BENEFIT:

Sensory groups are designed for residents who are lower functioning

Sensory Groups I am putting up plans for

Ladies Fragrance Group Water Therapy Sports Sensory Group Spring Sensory Experience Summer sensory experience

Men and their cars

Apple theme Chocolate theme Men's Wood group A trip down laundry lane Inside the sewing box Blokes and their buildings

Creating a Mobile Multi-sensory kit:

What could we have on our cart?

I furnished my cart from dollar stores for the majority of items.

See group plan with ideas on what to include in kits

Resources:

Tina Champagne – legendary OT from the USA who has based her career and research on sensory stimulation and sensory modulation

Great website: www.otinnovations.com which has great online resources and form and hints that you can use.

Any questions email me on sonya@otdiscussions.com

References

Baker, R., Bell, S., Baker, E., Gibson, S., Holloway, J., Pearce, R., Dowling, Z., Thomas, P., Assey, J. & Wareing, L. (2001). A randomized controlled trial of the effects of Multi-sensory stimulation (MSS) for people with dementia. British journal of clinical psychology. 40. Pg 81.

Burns, A., Bryne, J., Ballard, C., & Holmes, C. (2002). Sensory Stimulation in dementia: An effective option for managing behavioural problems. British Medical Journal. 325. 1312-1313.

Cohen-Mansfield, J. (2001). Managing agitation in elderly patients with dementia. Geriatric Times. 2(3).

Livingston, G., Johnston, K., Katona, C., Paton, J. & Lyketsos, C. G. (2005). Systematic review of psychological approaches to the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms of

dementia. The American journal of psychiatry. 162(11). Pg 1996-2022.

Trudeau. S. (1999). A sensory stimulation intervention for patients with advanced dementia: An interview with Scott Trudeau by AL Romer. Innovations in end of life care. 1(4).

Werezak, L. J. & Morgan, D. G. (2003). Creating a therapeutic psychosocial environment in dementia care: A preliminary framework. Journal of Gerontological Nursing. December issue.