Rawreth Court, a residential care home in Rayleigh managed by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), has launched a new sensory initiative to support older people with dementia.
Residents at the care home can now benefit from a dedicated space that allows them to enjoy one-to-one time in a peaceful environment. The ‘Namaste Care’ sensory experience includes soothing music, projectors, weighted soft toys, special lighting and sounds of nature.
Each session is personalised depending on the resident’s preferences and their backgrounds. For example, for a resident who is most relaxed on holiday at the beach the room will be set up with sounds of the sea and birds, exploring sand, watching a sea-life projector and tasting ice-cream.
Namaste Care is a person-centred, holistic approach focused on enhancing the quality of life for people with advanced dementia. It uses sensory-rich activities and meaningful interactions to promote comfort, reduce agitation and foster a sense of connection and well-being.
Alina Kutraite, Nursing Home Manager, said “As part of the implementation of Namaste Care, our Activity Coordinators attended Namaste Care training provided by St Clare Hospice which helped them to improve and further deepen their understanding of the principles of Namaste Care.
“The Namaste Care room has already made a huge difference to the residents. We have used the room with residents who can become agitated as a de-escalation room and have noticed improvement in their mood and presentation, and a reduction in distress.”