Care Home Sensory Room Gives Wellbeing Boost For Residents and Families
The opening of a therapeutic sensory room at an Aberdeenshire care home has produced sensational outcomes for residents and their families.
One year after the launch of a sensory space at St Modans Care Home in Fraserburgh, a new report has highlighted a range of benefits, including improved relaxation and better family interactions for residents living with dementia or brain injuries.
The sensory room was also referenced in the latest report from the Care Inspectorate – the regulatory body supporting quality care standards across Scotland – following an unannounced inspection in July. St Modans received the highest possible rating from the Care Inspectorate, achieving grade 6 across the board – signifying an ‘excellent’ sector-leading performance for the setting and the support of people’s wellbeing.
St Modans provides care across three specialist areas – acquired brain injury (ABI), nursing, and dementia care – and the sensory room, opened in 2024, was designed as a safe and soothing therapeutic space for residents in the 65-bed home.
Activities in the room include colour and music therapy, using equipment such as colour-changing lighting, an infinity tunnel, and an interactive bubble tube. In the words of one resident, “It’s the most magical room, very relaxing and makes you feel miles away from the busy room. I enjoy having my music on and watching all the lights change colours.”
The report on the first year of the room analysed case studies of individuals with dementia, ABI and/or reduced cognitive functions. These showed positive impacts from a variety of uses, including one-to-one activity, ad hoc sessions to alleviate agitation or anxiety, and visits with families.
As well as documenting positive effects on residents’ ability to relax, de-stress, sleep and engage with family, the study showed a correlation between the use of the room and the reduced need for medication.
One family member commented, “I feel that the sensory room has been a great addition to St Modans and that my mum really benefits from having use of it. Mum can have fluctuations in her mood at times and during these instances the sensory room enables her to have a calm, quiet environment to engage in.
“Whilst on visits with her grandson, she also likes to spend time in there with him too. He enjoys his time spent in there with grandma and thinks it’s a ‘super cool room too’.”
Pamela Geddes, Care Home Manager at St Modans Care Home said: “It’s been wonderful to see the way our residents and families have benefited from the sensory room over the past year. All of us have seen for ourselves the calmness or joy or intergenerational connections that people experience from the light, sound, textures and movement in this amazing room, and we’re delighted to have these benefits confirmed by this new detailed analysis. I’m very grateful to the staff, families and local community whose fundraising activity made it possible.
“Achieving such a positive response from the Care Inspectorate has been amazing. It was brilliant to read the incredible feedback regarding the team, and we’re thrilled to see the sensory room getting the recognition it deserves.”
Meallmore CEO, Cillian Hennessey added: “The state-of-the-art sensory room at St Modan’s is an exciting example of how we go the extra mile on care at Meallmore. As the results of this new report illustrate, we have created a space with clear benefits for the clinical, emotional and social wellbeing of our residents and their families, which is a first in its area.”
“Setting up this new approach to care involved a meticulous planning process for our team at St Modans, from gaining buy-in from colleagues, residents and relatives, to producing personalised plans for anyone who uses the space. I’m proud of what their creativity and dedication have achieved in this important new model for our sector.”
