A Multi-sensory Environment for the treatment of Dementia Affected Subjects

The paper describes the early outcomes of a multi-sensory room project conducted in an Italian long-term care home to study non-pharmacological therapeutic protocols to stimulate and maintain residual abilities of dementia affected patients. This includes setting, technological solutions, therapeutic protocols and pilot testing. In a nursing home clinical cases and therapeutic practices have been studied before designing the multi-sensory environment enhanced with ambient intelligence technologies. Aim is to obtain an optimal level of stimulation of dementia affected patients through engagement, active participation and intrinsic motivation in a therapeutic (leisure) activity, and favouring the emergence of personal meanings (memories, interpretations, narratives). The outcome of this pilot includes a blended therapeutic model with controlled stimuli, adapted to the patient’s stage of dementia. Therapeutic significance is discussed, as well as design opportunities for future development.