Innovative Sensory Stimulation for Residents with Dementia

The dementia department at Lindehaven Nursing Home in Ballerup has recently launched an innovative project aimed at stimulating residents with dementia through the use of live images, sound, and circadian lighting.

At Lindehaven Nursing Home's dementia department, they are currently transforming a former lounge into an innovative "stimulus room" equipped with a large screen that covers most of the end wall and Ergonomic Circadian Lighting. The screen is strategically positioned to mimic the view from a window. The aim is to create an environment where the twelve residents with dementia can be individually stimulated.

Remarkable initiative

The initiative is remarkable because it takes into account the individual needs of the residents with dementia. However, it requires a longer period of measurement and adjustment for each resident. The project is being carried out in collaboration with several private companies that have developed the CURAVIVO concept, originally designed for intensive care units. The CURAVIVO stimulus room for dementia patients is still being developed in collaboration with the staff at Lindehaven. VisioSign, a company already operating in the field of elderly care, provides the live images and sound. Chromaviso provides Ergonomic Lighting, which helps establish a natural circadian rhythm. Finally, Solutors is responsible for integration and control.

Calming and stimulating around the clock

The expectation is that the CURAVIVO stimulus room will be used in twenty-minute intervals, either to calm or stimulate a resident with dementia. If a resident becomes agitated during the day, a calming session in the CURAVIVO stimulus room is a perfect option. They will be presented with live images that they have positive associations with, such as agricultural environments, craftsmanship, or home settings. Additionally, the Ergonomic Circadian Lighting helps create the desired atmosphere in the room.

Many individuals with dementia experience disrupted sleep patterns and often wake up in the middle of the night. In such cases, the CURAVIVO stimulus room can be used to help guide them back to sleep. A video clip of a starry sky or other nighttime scenes, combined with calming lighting that influences their circadian rhythm, is just one of the many options available.

An Effective Tool

Head Nurse Annette Wintlev-Jensen from Lindehaven Nursing Home is eagerly anticipating the impact of the CURAVIVO stimulus room on residents with dementia.

— VWe are currently in the process of testing the effectiveness of the CURAVIVO stimulus room on selected residents with dementia. We have already observed positive effects from the combination of visuals, sound, and circadian lighting. Our task is to discover a selection of live images that each resident responds to, matching their individual needs for stimulation, se explains before continuing: 

— For instance, one female resident with dementia, who had roots in the Faroe Islands, became incredibly excited when she watched a film sequence featuring an old-fashioned tractor and exclaimed, "My father was the first person on the Faroe Islands to have such a tractor." This recognition of a past memory often helps stimulate their language skills. Currently, we are focusing on four areas: stimulation, experience, resident-specific, and memories. Alongside these, we are also developing fixed scenarios such as a "soothing nighttime concept" with pre-programmed visuals, sound, and circadian lighting. This process is fascinating, and all indications suggest that the CURAVIVO stimulus room will be an effective tool in our department.

Innovative pioneering project

The idea to establish the CURAVIVO stimulus room and test its effectiveness originated from Torben Nielsen, the nursing home manager at Lindehaven.

The initiative of implementing the CURAVIVO stimulus concept for dementia patients was born out of our existing collaboration with VisioSign, which has provided us with Touch Infoboards, reveals Torben Nielsen.

— All of Lindehaven's instructions, directions, and guidelines are available electronically on the displayed Infoboards throughout the facility, providing the staff with easier and faster access to information. When I heard that VisioSign was working on an exciting stimulus concept, it didn't take long for me to take action. We are developing the CURAVIVO stimulus room for our dementia residents in collaboration with VisioSign and the other involved parties. It is an innovative pioneering project, and we have high expectations for the impact that can be achieved by stimulating dementia residents with live images, sound, and circadian lighting, he says.