By Joanne Pretorius, Therapy Aide, Good Samaritan Stony Plain Care Centre
There are exciting things happening in the Rehabilitation department at Good Samaritan Stony Plain Care Centre. With funding help from the New Initiatives in Care Excellence (NICE) program, we were able to purchase an Arjo Nordic wellness chair. The chair’s purchase led to the development of a new multi-sensory room for our residents’ physical and mental rehabilitation.
Our multi-sensory room is a quiet, isolated, calm and monitored space where residents experience tranquillity and gentle stimulation that supports their therapy goals. We have darkened all the windows and covered the light panels with cloud covers. In addition to the Arjo Nordic wellness chair, the room also features a new freestanding bubble tube, a digital aquarium, a towel warmer, a reborn doll and companion pets, weighted blankets, and other tactile sensory tools. We aim to further equip the room by adding a fibre optic curtain, wall panels, projection lights, aromatherapy, and more appropriate storage.
Although the room is in the development stage, we have started using the room with several of our residents. We have seen exciting and positive results with decreased pacing, decreased anxiety, decreased aggression, falls and other behaviours.
Feedback from our residents:
“When I feel stressed, I know I need to spend time in the sensory room. After I feel relaxed and happy” – C.R.
“It helped me focus so I can receive my therapy” – G.M.
Over the coming months, we aim to complete the room, develop an interdisciplinary multi-sensory program, and help our residents with sensory issues navigate their environment more successfully.
We are fundraising to be able to purchase additional items for our sensory room. We are partnering with Boston Pizza in Stony Plain to host a fundraiser called “Raising the Room” on THURSDAY, July 4, 2024, at the Boston Pizza Stony Plain lounge. and will include dinner, silent auction and live entertainment. We are excited to announce the live entertainment from local singer/songwriter and recording artist… Mandy McMillan. www.MandyMcMillan.com
Doors open at 6 pm, Dinner at 7 pm and the show starts at 7:30 pm.
Tickets are $40.00 each and need to be purchased in advance at Boston Pizza Stony Plain or by contacting Brenda Svicenec at brendasvicenec@gmail.com
