1. Sensory Stimulation: What it is and
how to use it as an Activity
Intervention for Persons with
dementia
Stephen Vozzella BA ACC
Emeritus Pikesville
Memory Care Director

2. Expectations
Do you have any
questions before we
get started?

3. Objectives
Delineate the process of leading a
sensory stimulation activity.
Discuss the benefits of using sensory
stimulation.
List successful sensory stimulation
activities

4. One activity approach that can benefit the person
with dementia is sensory stimulation as there is an
increasing challenge to identifying appropriate
activities as they decline. The presentation will review
the activity assessment and how it determines
activities, the meaning of sensory stimulation, for
whom it is appropriate, and the benefits. The
speaker will discuss the different ways to implement
sensory stimulation and discuss successful activities
that have utilized in a dementia care setting.

5. Get to know one of your fellow
participants!
Find a partner!!
Complete Activity Assessment Questions

6. Sensory Stimulation
Conveying nerve
impulses from the
sense organs to the
nerve centers
to arouse or affect
by a stimulant

7. Sensory Stimulation
Group or Individual Activity that is
directed toward memory impaired
individuals who have difficulty relating
to their world.

8. Who is Appropriate for
Sensory Stimulation?
Focus on severely
impaired resident.

9. End Stage Dementia
Memory is mostly absent
Difficulty walking
Difficulty eating
Severe communication deficit

10. Personal History
Where is the person from?
Where has the person lived?
What was the person’s occupation?
Where did the person go to school?
How many languages does the person know?
Was the person in the service?
Is the person married?
Does the person have family members that
interact with him/her?

11. Personal History - II
How does the person spend a typical day?
Does the person like a shower?
Does the person sleep in?
How often does the person nap?
What major events has the person been
through?
What was the person’s personality like before
memory loss and currently?

12. Medical Information
Vision
Hearing
Hand
Alcohol/Smoking
Diagnosis
Communication
Ambulation
Diet

13. Leisure Interests – Do Not
Make a Checklist
Reading Religion
Collecting Volunteer/Clubs
TV/Movie Children
Music Pets
Art Reminiscence/Social
Gardening Events
Baking/Cooking Humor
Sports/Sports Fan Games/Cards/Bingo
Travel
Any Other Categories?

14. Level of Participation
Independent
Dependent
Observes
How does he/she observe?
Unaware
Minimum assistance to participate
Moderate assistance to participate
Maximum assistance to participate

15. Strengths and Needs
Review the assessment.
What are some strengths?
Example Strengths – He/she is able to follow
objects with eyes, able to hold objects;
laughs at times, loves birds, loves music.
Example Needs - Needs assistance attending
activities; maximum cueing to be an
observer; needs to take a nap in the
afternoon.
What is the activity plan?

16. Six Senses
Smell
Touch
Auditory
Visual
Taste
Kinesthetic

17. Leading Sensory Stimulation
Group
Individually
Simultaneous
Drop off – Focal
Point
Environment

18. Planning an Activity
Plan ahead.
Plan using the person’s interests.
Have a back up plan.
Break activity into steps.
Adapt a favorite activity.

19. Things to consider when
planning
Privacy
Spirituality
Adaptation
Musical interventions

20. Leading an Activity
Have supplies ready to start.
Be patient.
Be aware of how you communicate.
Have your backup plan ready.
Be aware of the person’s comfort.
Use a space the person is comfortable in.

21. Location
Resident’s Room
Quiet place
Bright place
Outside

22. What to talk about?
What do you see in the picture?
What does this smell make you think of?
Did you ever go to…….?
When you hear this noise what do you think
about?
Which way do you like to eat this type of
food?
What does that feel like when you touch it?

23. Evaluation and Documentation
How did the person
participate?
Did he/she need a
lot of cueing?
What did you
observe?
Tears, smiles?
Holding objects?
Any comments?

24. Costs
Staff time
Supplies
Training and
education time

25. Visual Stimulation
Family pictures
Familiar objects – go to
the resident’s room
Going outside
Videos
Animals - Fish Tank,
Aviary
Magazines
Children

26. Touch Stimulation
Snow
Wallpaper books
Stuffed animals
Pillows
Yarn
Sand paper
Massages
Vibration
Bubbles

27. Snowball Toss
Fresh Snow
Styrofoam Balls
Hot Cocoa

28. Wash the Car
One Day at a Time
Clean the Hubcaps
Wax the Hood
Vacuum the Floor Mats
Clean out the Trunk

29. House Chores
Peeling Vegetables
Folding Clothes
Snapping Beans
Dusting
Sorting Old Bills
Wiping Down Tables or Furniture
Polishing Silver

30. Taste
Taste spices
Taste drinks
Food reminisce
Cooking reminisce
Food party

31. Potato Chip Sensory
Different Flavor Chips
Beer or Soda
History of the Potato Chip

32. Mix Pudding
Good exercise
Smells good
They can taste the pudding
Reminisce about the uses for pudding
Not a lot of steps

33. Auditory Stimulation
Sound effects
Discuss sounds
Music
Make noise
Music trivia
Prayers

34. Hymn Sing
Traditional Hymns
Have recording of song if necessary
Pray together

35. Smell Stimulation
Smell spices
Discuss memories
associated with
smells
Smell quiz
Paint with spices,
coffee
Microwave bacon
Hand massage

36. Kinesthetic Stimulation
Playing bells
Throwing a ball
Tossing objects
Painting
Petting animals
Shaping dough

37. Lets Look at the Survey
Plan one activity for each sense for the
person you surveyed
Lets Discuss

38. Combine all the Senses
Ocean City
Picture of Trimpers Rides
Rub some sun oil or sub block on
Fries and Vinegar
Audio of waves crashing
Handle some seashells
Wind string for a kite

39. Resources
Activity Assessment
Internet
Library
Second Hand Stores
Basement/Attic
Dollar Establishment

40. What are the Benefits of
Sensory Stimulation?
Decrease Sensory
Deprivation
Opportunity to engage
environment
Decrease isolation
Decrease apathy
Fun
Pleasure
Increase quality of life
Educate loved ones

41. Keys to success…….
Assessment
Patience and
understanding
Adapting activities
Breaking them into
steps
Observing the
person’s response

42. References
Peter Rabins, MD, MPH, Constantine Lyketsos, MD, MPH,
and Cynthia Steele, RN, Practical Dementia Care, New York,
Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1999
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/sensory
Carol Bowlby Therapeutic Activities with Persons Disabled by
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Gaithersburg
Maryland, Aspen Publishers 1993