Based on the scientific principles of sensory stimulation, “A Sense of Calm”, uses gentle moving images, light and soothing music to stimulate calming alpha brain waves, helping to filter out the stress, frustration, anxiety and agitation caused by dementia (Alzheimer’s, vascular, Lewy bodies, stroke related and fronto-temporal)
to bring about a sense of calm and balance.
If you have reached this page via a search engine, you will probably be someone who is caring for, or knows someone who is caring for, a loved one with dementia -you may even have the condition yourself, so you are looking for something to help you cope.
As you will already know, unfortunately, there is currently no cure for dementia, so quality of life and wellbeing becomes a priority for those diagnosed with the condition.
We mentioned in our general relaxation page how the stress of everyday events
can sometimes get too much for any of us, so imagine what it must be like for someone with a condition like dementia, who may be confused, forgetful, suffering hallucinations and frustrated by not being able to communicate their thoughts and feelings.
The producers of “A Sense of Calm” took a career break of nearly 3 years to care
for an elderly relative who had been diagnosed with dementia and their experience became the inspiration of this project –
“Mum had reached a stage where she was becoming very distressed and confused, so she was admitted to a specialist hospital unit for assessment. The unit had use of a sensory bubble machine, which they set up as a temporary sensory room. We were amazed how it calmed Mum down,
but the machine wasn’t available all the time, so we set about making our
first moving graphic, mimicking the tempo of the bubble machine. It worked
- it calmed Mum down, just as the sensory room had and gave her some release from the torment she felt inside.”
- Peter Higgins, Producer / Director of “A Sense of Calm”
Sensory rooms are expensive and not really practical for use by a home carer, but the DVD “A Sense of Calm” can be used at home, or in nursing homes, on any TV connected to a DVD player, or a digital projector, for a fraction of the cost.
Some people with conditions such as dementia have the added problem of being unable to process information easily and are unable to read or watch conventional TV. They are unable to follow story lines and can even think that the actors and presenters on the screen are talking about them.
"A Sense of Calm" can be viewed as a relaxation therapy in itself, or as a therapeutic means of creating a calming atmosphere that can promote social interaction and communication for someone whose condition has caused them stress, agitation, anxiety and frustration.
During a sensory session, Occupational Therapists engage patients in purposeful activities that are individual to the patient’s needs, but it is often necessary to bring about a sense of calm first, by filtering out any signs of sensory overload from the environment.
Many of the carers who have used “A Sense of Calm” have commented on how the DVD not only calms the patient, but also helps to relax the carer, which, can only be good for both carer and patient alike.
Please read our Home and General Relaxation Pages for more information on
“A Sense of Calm.”
