Sensory stimulation for advanced dementia

[adrienurse, LPN]

I'm interested in knowing what each of you have learned about providing sensory stimulation to patients with advanced dementia who cannot interact with others. We've become very active in advocating for this for our residents in order to preserve abilities. Any links/ articles that you can suggest?

[tex]

We have a special small group for just these patients. We play music that is appropriate, hold there hands, talk to them, take their hand and allow them to hold dolls, touch different objects with us guiding their hand, holding stuffed/soft animals to their neck or even pet the dogs that are allowed to come in the facility. We have one lady who only looks at people, was sitting close to Big Band music playing, she appeared to be watching two people dance to the music, and it was reported that she was moving her feet to the beat, while in her geri chair. Tex

[donmurray]

Try http://www.rompa.com lots of ideas, but they are expensive!

[Vicki30CNA, CNA, LPN]

I wish I could say this worked in our facility(so far we havent found one who seems to respond), but we have a parakete (spelling?).

[alwaysthere]

the dementia wing were i used to work had a whole room devoted to that type of thing..the pt's loved it... i also found that it helped to talk to their familys..find out about interests hobbies activities the used to do even what kinds of foods they like. You never know what will work. Ive had good results quite by accident. We also had pics of our residents up all over the unit walls (new pics , old ones , wedding ones etc) these rez's would stare at their pics for quite some time... and some of the less affected ones would start to chatter about the time or place that the pic was taken.

[adrienurse, LPN]

Alwaysthere, I've read a few of your posts now, and I think you're gonna be a really good nurse. You have a lot of insight into what's going on with your patients. Keep up the good work!