Sensory Stimulation for Persons in Late Stage Dementia
Caregivers report that it can be difficult to interact with a family member who can no longer speak - or rarely has facial expression or rarely makes eye contact. I am often asked to suggest some simple ways in which caregivers can re-connect with their late stage family members. The following senses stimulation program is based on "Alerting Stimuli" and "Pleasant Stimuli". Altering stimulation is desigend to get the persons attention and pleasant stimulation is desigend to invoke a memory. You want to use a mixture of both in your sessions. Sessions should last 10-15 minutes.
> Auditory / Hearing
Alerting - Squeaky sounds; Baby cry; Rooster crow; Whistling; Knocking;
Doorbell sound; Hands clapping; Tinkling (spoon in cup);
Tearing paper; School Bell; Horn honking
Pleasant - Children laughing; Melodic Bells; Wind Chimes; Reciting
familiar prayers, sayings or poems, religious music,patriotic
music, favorite old songs, bird calls, nature sounds...
> Visual / Seeing
Alerting - Suspending a bright colored object at eye level and moving it
around slowly. Lining up objects such as dominos and knocking
them down, wobbly objects, party favors that unroll when you
blow in them >NOTE: avoid flashing bright lights at a person's
face as this can cause seizures in persons susceptible>
Pleasant - Pinwheels, blowing bubbles, balloons, windup toys, pictures of
people with happy faces, sequined objects, glowing objects,
objects that represent their faith, tops, yo-yo's...
> Tactile / Touching
Alerting - Vibration, cold things, something heavy, sandpaper, sticky
(wrap a ball in tape), feather tickle on the face, water mist
on the hand, pine cones...
Pleasant - Animal fur, bubble wrap, marshmallows, tin foil, silk scarf
or other soft fabric, powder puff, lotion, warm wet cloth,
ball of soft yarn, warmed blanket on the legs...
> Motion:
Alerting - Gentle puff of air on face from ear syringe, mini fan or
hand fan, water pat mat, dominoes lined up and pushed over,
anything on wheels...
Pleasant - Rolling out bread dough or other "squeezable" things, coil
key chain, large strip of elastic, bowl of water with things
floating on top...
> Smell/Taste:
Alerting - Smell - Garlic, peppermint, onion, dill
Pleasant - Smell - Florals, pine, cinnamon, old spice, channel #5,
baby powder...
Alerting - Taste - Dill pickle, lemon or lime juice drop, orange or
grapefruit...
Pleasant - Taste - Candy flavoring, jellies or jams, whipped cream,
baby food fruit
These are only some examples of senses stimulation for the person with late stage dementia. You can also create themes and attempt to stimulate as many of the senses as you are able within the theme - for example: "The Beach" - SMELL - suntan lotion; SOUND - Ocean / seagulls; TOUCH - sand, beach ball, shells... TASTE - Cotton candy or ice cream, MOTION - Fan to simulate a breeze, pushing the beach ball, desk top "wave machine", VISUAL - looking at pictures of the ocean, ships, boats, people on the beach...
Choose one of the senses each day of the week and work to incorporate both
alerting and pleasant stimulation throughout the day.
Choose one theme each week and attempt to stimulate as many senses as you are able throughout the day.
Remember - the type of responses you get may be as simple as moving their eyes toward the stimulation or away from it. And it can result in your family member reconnecting to you and their environment in small but meaningful ways.
The Alzheimer's Association website offers a variety of information and links to other services. www.alz.org
If you would like information regarding ElderWood Senior Care, please call (716)633-3900.