Sensory Therapy Effective Method for Older Adults With Dementia

Sensory therapy can effectively reduce anxiety, calm nerves, and offer comfort to older adults with dementia, ameliorating their depression and improving their social interaction, reports the Wahpeton Daily News . The technique employs everyday objects to activate one or more of the five senses and evoke positive emotions. Sensory activities can include hand massages, reading aloud, baking, gardening, and usage of sensory items. For example, hand massages trigger touch and smell, with the massage relaxing the person while the scented lotion can help them retrieve a past memory. Meanwhile, baking allows the person to prepare the ingredients to be used in the recipe, which also may trigger a past memory like baking with their grandchildren. These provoked feelings can help calm people if they are worried, or uplift them if they are dealing with depression.