Sensory stimulation has a positive effect on both residents and staff in residences

The new project has been carried out in several residences where the residents normally have a tendency towards restless, aggressive, and self-harming behaviors. These are challenges that require significant resources and negatively affect the well-being of the staff, as they can lead to stress, high sick leave, and frequent staff turnover. The aim of this particular project is to improve the collaboration with restless residents and help them to achieve a better balance in their arousal levels in this way improve their life quality.

The project focuses on sensory stimulation. The residents have used sensory rooms or sensory areas with  various technologies for sensory stimulation, including lights, sounds, scents, and products from Protac such as the Protac Ball Blanket^®, the Protac MyFit^®, and the Protac SenSit^®. 

The project results are very positive and confirm that systematic use of sensory stimulation contributes to less aggressive residents, improved sleep and circadian rhythms, 

- more calm and less aggressive, and self-harming behavior

- improved sleep and circadian rhythms

- fewer high-risk assessments 

- enhanced job satisfaction among the staff

Progressing well-being with focus on sensory stimulation

The well-being of the staff and of the residents are closely connected, which is why it is important to look at well-being from a double perspective. By focusing on the residents’ sensory systems and using conflict-reducing and sensory-stimulating products, the outwardly aggressive and self-harming behavior is reduced and the staff can aim their work on core tasks and positive activities with the individual residents.