Multi-Sensory Stimulation in 24-hour Dementia Care

Dementia among nursing home residents is oftenaccompanied by behavioural disturbances and high caredependency. Multi-Sensory Stimulation or snoezelen,integrated in 24-h dementia care, is an approach thatmight improve mood and behaviour of demented elderlyas well as the quality of working life of dementiacaregivers. This book describes a study in which six intervention wards received a training program ‘snoezelen for caregivers’. They were compared with six control wards providing 'usual care'. Results indicated that the implementation of snoezelen had a positive effect on mood, disturbing behaviour and withdrawn behaviour of demented elderly. Moreover, the implementation of snoezelen improved the quality of working life of dementia caregivers (e.g., less time pressure, stress reactions and burnout). This book also describes the effects of the implementation of snoezelen on (non-)verbal communicative behaviour during morning care and gives an overview of facilitating and hindering factors for successful implementation of snoezelen. The book includes a literature review on effects of existing psychosocial methods on behaviour of persons with dementia.