Introduction
Dementia is a term used to represent a group of signs affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities severely. The signs and symptoms of dementia are enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia is not a specific disease, but several conditions can lead to dementia. Dementia typically involves loss of memory. Sensory stimulation activates one or more senses, including taste, aroma, eyesight, hearing, and touch. It can vary from a simple hand massage with scented cream or hearing to a playlist of favorite music to more complex activities created to provide a sensory experience. It can help dementia people call up pleasant memories and emotions and enable them to convey and engage with the individuals around them.
What Is Dementia?
Dementia is a syndrome. It is usually a chronic or progressive condition that leads to a decline in cognitive function, called the ability to process thought further what might be expected from the usual effects of biological aging. It involves memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgment. Dementia will not affect consciousness. The cognitive function impairment is generally accompanied and sometimes preceded by mood changes, emotional control, behavior, or motivation. Dementia has physical, social, psychological, and economic impacts. It is not only for individuals with dementia but also for their caretakers, families, and society. Lack of awareness and understanding of dementia results in stigmatization and obstacles to diagnosis and care. Dementia is now the seventh top cause of death among all diseases. One of the causes of disability and dependence among more senior people worldwide is dementia.
What Is Meant by Sensory Stimulation in Dementia People?
Our brains and nervous systems are a steady buzz of electrical activity and respond to the world around them. On brain scans, we notice areas of the brain light up in reaction to various kinds of stimulation. Our bodies are designed to interact with the world around us, and we must push to thrive. While most of us are used to sensory stimulation from day-to-day activities such as going to the grocery, walking the dog, or hand skills, this is not the case for numerous people with dementia. As dementia advances, a sense of fear, isolation, and confusion can control dementia people with memory loss from sensory stimulation in their everyday lives. In addition, the more advanced phases of dementia bring communication challenges and more physical manifestations of the disease, like difficulty with mobility. Consequently, people with dementia, whose brains are slowly losing synapses, also begin to experience a loss of sensory stimulation due to their isolation, confusion, and physical limitations.
What Are the Benefits of Sensory Stimulation in Dementia?
By providing people with dementia a way to define themselves other than words, sensory stimulation can help them calm and enhance their mood, self-esteem, and well-being. For example, if an old aged person living with dementia was born and grown near the beach, an object as small as a seashell can return memories of their childhood residence. Simply regarding the texture and weight of the shell in their hands or getting it up to their ear can boost their cognitive capabilities without even knowing it.
In addition to stimulating positive feelings, the sensory stimulus can help people with dementia communicate. By using certain things, sensory stimulation can help elders who feel difficulty communicating and relating to the world around them to question, respond to oral clues, or remain calm in stressful conditions. Other advantages of sensory stimulation include the following:
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Enhancing cognitive symptoms and supporting daily function.
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Motivating participation in social gatherings.
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Chance for reflection.
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Improved concentration and alertness.
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Easing communication.
How Is Sensory Stimulation Done?
For the most part, sensory stimulation actions work nicely when they are related to interests the individual had previous to dementia to help reconstruct a link to everyday life. However, tailoring the actions to each person's characteristics, needs, and likes is essential. Depending on whether the person is in the earlier or more progressive stages of memory loss, some actions are more relevant and appropriate than others. Sensory stimulation activities in dementia people can include the following:
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Bringing in objects the geriatric typically has around.
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Gentle hand massage.
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Taking a walk outdoors to provide a different scenery.
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Talking or reading aloud.
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Managing pets to come for visits.
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Favorite meal cooking.
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Play games such as "smell guess." Fill small, airtight containers with cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, basil, and others.
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Create a sensory box. Containing items unique to the individual, such as knick-knacks, holiday photographs, an old driving license, a favorite scent, awards, religious souvenirs, and anything special to the person.
Sensory stimulation is planned to bring joy to dementia people, reduce anxiety and depression, and boost communication.
What Are the Types of Sensory Stimulation?
Some of the sensory stimulation types are mentioned below. They are,
1. Auditory stimulation.
2. Tactile stimulation.
3. Visual stimulation.
5. Gustatory stimulation.
1. Auditory Stimulation.
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Beneficial for mood enhancement, awareness, and relaxation.
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Listening to music, poems, singing, and natural sounds like a waterfall, a gentle rainfall.
2. Tactile Stimulation.
It improves the well-being of people with dementia.
3. Visual Stimulation.
Light therapy is one of the most basic types of visual treatment.
4. Olfactory Stimulation.
Essential oils, with their unique properties, are helpful in this type. Some of them are mentioned below.
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Lavender.
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Peppermint.
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Rosemary.
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Bergamot.
5. Gustatory Stimulation.
Use various spices and flavorings such as cinnamon, coconut, green and black tea. They are used to stimulate memory or sense of taste.
Conclusion
Dementia is a syndrome affecting the individual's memory, most commonly observed in older adults. The causes of dementia may vary and are sometimes reversible. Alzheimer's disease is a common condition with dementia as a critical factor. A dementia diagnosis is challenging, and the individual with dementia needs special care. With the various types of sensory stimulation, the symptoms are improved in dementia patients.
