How the 5 Senses Can Help Senior Citizens Living with Dementia

Dementia is a disease that makes it harder for older people to think, remember things, and do everyday tasks. It can make their lives much more difficult. While doctors often use medicine to help people with dementia, there is growing interest in using non-drug treatments. Senior Citizen Health and Wellbeing Specialists at Jagriti Dham explore through this blog how stimulating the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell) might help people with dementia feel better and live a better life. For those seeking a supportive environment, consider exploring housing options for senior citizens, such as assisted living facilities or memory care communities, where specialised care and sensory stimulation can be provided.

Dementia is a problem that affects people’s memory, thinking, and behavior. As more and more people get older, there will be more people with dementia. Medicine can help, but it does not always work well and can have side effects. Other ways to help, like focusing on the senses, can be good. Ayurveda, an old Indian medicine system, says that using our senses is important for being healthy. It helps us balance our mind, body, and spirit, which can help us deal with dementia.

“Our goal at Jagriti Dham, a housing for senior citizens, is to enhance the quality of life for our residents with dementia,” stated a Senior Citizen Counselor. “By stimulating sensory pathways, we aim to improve cognitive function, reduce behavioral disturbances, and enhance overall well-being. Our approach involves the scientific application of sensory-based interventions, using specific techniques and modalities to optimise benefits for individuals living with dementia in our community.”

The Role of the Senses in Cognitive Function

The human brain works with our five senses. When we see, hear, touch, taste, or smell something, it sends messages to our brain. These messages help us think, remember, and understand things. In older adults with dementia, their senses might not work as well, which can make it harder for them to think clearly. By using things that help them see, hear, touch, taste, or smell, we might be able to help them think better and have a better life.

• Enhance cognitive function: Stimulating the senses can help maintain brain activity and slow cognitive decline.
• Improve mood and reduce agitation: Sensory experiences can provide comfort, relaxation, and a sense of familiarity, which can help reduce agitation and improve mood.
• Foster communication: Engaging the senses can facilitate communication, even in individuals with limited language skills.
• Support memory recall: Sensory cues can trigger memories and help individuals connect with their past.

Specific Benefits of Sensory Stimulation

Sight: Looking at things can help keep your brain working well, recognise things better, and bring back good memories.

• Use pictures and things: Look at photos, pictures, or objects to help you remember things.
• Let in the light: Sunlight can help you sleep better and feel happier.
• Use colours: Put colourful things around you to make you feel a certain way or remember things.
• Try art: Doing things like painting, drawing, or sculpting can help your brain see things better and improve your hand movements.
• Walk in nature: Being outside in nature can help you feel less stressed, happier, and think better.
• Use light therapy: Using special lights can help you sleep better if you have trouble.

Hearing: Hearing helps us feel better, stay calm, and talk better.

• Music therapy: Playing music the person likes can make them happy and help them remember things.
• Sound therapy: Using sounds from nature or quiet music can help them relax and feel less anxious.
• Auditory cues: Saying things or making sounds can help them understand and do things.
  Singing and Music Making: Doing things with music can help their brain work better and help them talk better.

Touch: Touching things can help people feel calmer, less agitated, and more aware of their surroundings.

• Massage: Getting a massage can help reduce pain, make blood flow better, and make people feel relaxed.
• Touching Things: Use things with different textures to help people feel and experience more.
• Hugs and Touches: Hugging and touching people can make them feel comfortable and safe.
• Sensory Bins: Playing with things like sand, water, or rice can help people feel and learn new things.
• Gardening: Planting and taking care of plants can help people experience different things and stay active.

Taste: Stimulating the sense of taste can enhance appetite, trigger positive memories, and improve overall enjoyment of food.

• Flavourful foods: Eating foods with lots of flavour can help senior citizens taste things better and feel hungry.
• Familiar tastes: Serve foods that the person likes to help them remember good times.
• Oral stimulation: Offer foods with different textures, like soft, crunchy, or chewy, to help them taste things better.
• Food Preparation: Let people help prepare their food. This can help them think better and feel more independent.
• Taste Testing: Engaging in taste tests can improve sensory perception and enhance enjoyment of food.

Smell: Smelling pleasant things can make people feel good, bring back memories, and help them relax. This can be especially helpful for people with dementia who might feel upset or anxious.

• Aromatic therapy: Using essential oils can evoke memories, improve mood, and reduce anxiety.
• Familiar scents: Use smells that the person likes to remind them of good times.
• Environmental scents: Create a pleasant-smelling environment using air fresheners or scented candles.
• Cooking and Baking: Cooking or baking can help people smell and taste things, which can be fun and stimulating.
• Nature Walks: Walking in nature can help people enjoy the smells and other things around them.

Benefits of Sensory-Based Interventions

Sensory-based interventions offer a multitude of benefits for individuals with dementia. By engaging the senses, these interventions can enhance cognitive function, improve mood, and reduce agitation. They can also foster communication, stimulate memory recall, and provide a sense of comfort and well-being. Additionally, sensory-based interventions can help individuals with dementia connect with their past, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.

• Improved Cognitive Function: Sensory stimulation can enhance memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
• Reduced Behavioral Disturbances: Engaging the senses can help manage agitation, aggression, and wandering.
• Enhanced Quality of Life: Sensory-based interventions can improve mood, reduce stress, and promote a sense of well-being.
• Social Engagement: Group activities involving sensory stimulation can foster social interaction and reduce feelings of isolation.

Jagriti Dham, one of the premier luxury retirement homes in India, is thoughtfully designed to promote health and well-being while reducing the risk of dementia. The facility incorporates various elements to stimulate the five senses and enhance cognitive function:

• Natural light floods the living spaces, promoting a sense of well-being and regulating circadian rhythms.
• A balanced diet, prepared by expert chefs, ensures optimal nutrition and supports brain health.
• Engaging activities, such as art therapy, music sessions, and games, stimulate the mind and prevent cognitive decline.
• The surrounding greenery and nature walks provide opportunities for sensory stimulation and relaxation.
• To address holistic health, Jagriti Dham houses the Jiva Ayurveda Wellness Centre, offering Ayurvedic treatments and therapies to promote physical and mental balance.
•  Regular health and wellness workshops educate residents on healthy living and dementia prevention.
•  Moreover, the facility organises events and celebrations to foster social interaction and encourage a positive mindset.

By combining these elements, Jagriti Dham creates an environment that supports the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of senior citizens, ultimately reducing the risk of dementia.

Sensory-based interventions offer a promising approach to improving the quality of life for individuals with dementia, particularly in the context of housing for senior citizens. By stimulating the five senses, we can enhance cognitive function, reduce behavioural disturbances, and promote overall well-being in luxury retirement homes and other care settings.