Still being touched by life: Sensory stimulation for people with dementia

Why chose this course?

• people with dementia easily become isolated within a residential setting
• staff working within dementia services are looking for effective ways of still stimulating the users of their service
• sensory stimulation enables individuals to stay reconnected to the present and to their bodies and to other people
• movement and rhythm can trigger memories and can enable communication
• the Mental Capacity Act states that communication needs to be enabled through any means possible, this expands those means

Time: 9.30 ~ 4.30

This course can be added to either

• ‘Looking back and looking forward, reminiscence work’ and/or
• ‘Communicating with confused people, validation therapy techniques’

Expected outcomes: by the end of this course participants will be able to:

• understand a range of responses to sensory stimuli
• feel confident in appropriately using touch with users of their service
• explore the images and meanings that are associated with sensory stimuli
• take advantage of daily situations to stimulate people with dementia
• initiate creative ways of communicating with the users of their service
• have examined the difference between empowering and oppressive
• communication and the underlying purpose of communication
• know some of the legislative boundaries around touch and consent
• recognise and use ‘preferred sense’ in communication
• commit to continued communication even after speech is no longer accessible to a person with dementia

Nature of training:
This course requires a smaller number of participants than usual due to the sensitive nature of the work and the requirement for participants to experiment. This will mean overcoming inhibitions so that sound and other mediums can be used in an innovative and creative way.

Exercises will range from lecture style input (small) to discussion and small group work and to individual sharing within pairs. A high emphasis on experiencing sensory input is central to this course. A safe environment will be created to try out new things.

Hand outs will be provided to reinforce all theoretical input.
Music, art and drama will contribute to the session. This will be easily accessible!