Engage Senior Senses to Add Joy to Your Residents’ Daily Experiences

Have you ever encountered a scent that brought back a flood of memories? According to Scientific American, many people have experienced this. Research supports the idea that scent is a powerful trigger for memories. Our senses play a pivotal, and sometimes overlooked, role in our daily lives. By engaging senior senses, senior care facilities add joy to their residents’ daily experiences.

Sensory Stimulation and Healthy Aging

According to the National Institute on Aging, there appears to be a link between the decline in senses some people experience as they age and dementia and overall brain health. Approximately one in three adults have vision problems or vision loss by age 65, whereas nearly one in two have hearing problems by age 75. A loss of smell is also increasingly common with age. Sensory decline contributes to social isolation and may also increase a person’s cognitive load because the brain is forced to work harder.

Given this connection, it’s unsurprising that sensory stimulation has been used for people with dementia. Research published in Clinical Interventions in Aging also found a link between sensory and memory stimulation and improved communication among dementia patients in long-term care settings. Sensory therapies also provide physical and emotional comfort without the negative side effects associated with many medications, such as an increased risk of falls.

Pros and Cons of Sensory Stimulation

By engaging the senses, senior care facilities make daily life more interesting and joyful for residents. Sensory stimulation may even help with memory and cognition issues and other problems associated with dementia.

However, each resident is different. Some residents may be particularly sensitive to certain scents, tastes, sounds, or textures. These sensory experiences may even cause them to recall unpleasant or traumatic memories. Therefore, it’s important to pay attention to individual residents and create a personalized approach, while documenting any negative reactions to make other staff members aware.

Engaging the Five Senses

There are nearly endless possibilities to engage the five senses. Some ideas to consider include:

• Sight: Decorating shared areas with beautiful art, bright colors, and natural light provides visual stimulation. You may also want to organize outings to art museums or host painting or drawing activities to allow residents to create their own art. Movies are another option – host movie nights where you play some of your residents’ favorite classic movies.
• Sound: Research published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience found that upbeat classical music improves processing speed, whereas both upbeat and downbeat classical music appear to have a positive effect on memory. Furthermore, in a poll from the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation at the University of Michigan, the vast majority of older adults reported that they gained benefits from listening to music. These benefits included reducing stress, improving mental health, sparking memories, and boosting motivation. Playing background music is an easy way to engage the auditory sense. Other activities could include inviting a local music group to perform at your facility or hosting a karaoke event.
• Smell: Scent is particularly powerful at evoking memories. It’s also closely tied to the sense of taste. Hosting a cooking class is one way to engage the sense of smell – traditional food items that bring back memories may be especially effective. According to UCLA Health, aromatherapy is also beneficial for older adults, as it boosts mood and mental health, enhances memory and cognition, improves sleep, and even reduces pain intensity. There are several ways to apply aromatherapy, including through a diffuser filled with water and a few drops of scented essential oil.
• Taste: Mayo Clinic says it’s common for people to experience some loss of taste and smell as they age, with various health problems contributing to this. To engage the sense of taste, serve a variety of foods with different seasonings. Another option is to host tasting events that expose residents to new flavors and flavor combinations. Remember to also consider any specialized diet plans when preparing meals or events.
• Touch: Bring in a massage therapist who is trained in safe massage techniques for seniors to provide chair or hand massages. Alternatively, host a pottery workshop or other highly-tactile class. Petting therapy animals can also be a rewarding tactile experience.

The five senses are how we interact with the world. By engaging the senses, residential care facilities can create richer experiences that evoke fond memories. PCH Mutual offers a free benefit called Resident Stories to help you collect and save valuable information–including what delights their senses. This personalized insight can be saved in their file or room to help foster connection and enrich their daily lives.

Tangram provides residential care facility insurance through the Personal Care & Assisted Living Insurance Center (PCALIC) as well as resources to help manage risks and protect the residents in your care. Learn more.