As our bodies change with age, so do our senses, and it’s important to maintain them. Explore these methods for engaging the senses.
The Benefits of Sensory Stimulation
Stimulating the five senses–hearing, vision, taste, smell, and touch–has been shown to greatly improve:
- Cognitive health and tapping into memories, especially beneficial to Alzheimer’s and dementia patients
- Emotional well-being, communication skills, and social engagement
- Nutrition and the overall dining experience
- Safety and awareness of surroundings, including engaging in activities
Hearing
You can engage your hearing ability by:
- Attending concerts or karaoke nights
- Listening to a nostalgic playlist or audiobook
- Participating in music therapy or sound therapy
- Playing background music or nature soundscapes while participating in an activity
- Singing or making sounds of what you’re doing to enhance auditory cues
Vision
You can engage your sense of sight by:
- Creating a visually pleasing environment at home with natural light, colorful items, and art you love
- Getting creative with visual art, like painting or photography, to enhance attention to detail
- Playing games, solving puzzles, and reading your favorite book to stay sharp
- Switching your focus around from an activity now and then to give your eyes a break and ground yourself
- Using interactive technology like video games and virtual reality (VR)
- Visiting an art museum and discussing your feelings about the colors, emotions, and shapes within each piece
Taste
You can engage your sense of taste by:
- Enjoying familiar comfort meals that bring up special memories
- Exploring different cultural foods from around the world
- Participating in the cooking and taste testing of a meal
- Trying foods with unique flavors, seasonings, spices, temperatures, and textures
Smell
You can engage your sense of smell by:
- Creating a pleasant-smelling environment with air fresheners, candles, and even baking
- Participating in aromatic therapy or using essential oils
- Spray a memorable or favorite perfume or cologne on special items, such as the perfume your daughter wears on a blanket she gifted you
- Walking through an herb garden and identifying the different scents and uses
Touch
You can engage your tactile ability by:
- Caring for a pet or therapy animal with unique textures
- Creating a unique environment full of varied textures and fabrics to enjoy throughout the day, such as corduroy, cotton, silk, and velvet
- Feeling the different plants in a garden
- Getting a massage or attending physical therapy
- Giving at least five to ten hugs per day
- Playing in water, which stimulates multiple senses
- Taking a tactile-based art class, such as knitting, pottery, sculpting, or woodworking
- Touching objects and describing the texture and how it makes you feel
Explore how you can make the most of retirement in our ebook, Lifestyle Opportunities in Senior Living Communities!
At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.