Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of multisensory stimulations in a
Snoezelen room on the balance of individuals with dementia.
DESIGN: Randomized
controlled trial. SETTING: Canadian long-term care home. PARTICIPANTS:
Twenty-four residents (average age 86 years), in a long-term care home diagnosed
with dementia, were assigned randomly to intervention and control groups.
Nineteen participants completed the study. Interventions:
Nine intervention group
participants completed 30-minute Snoezelen room sessions twice a week for six
weeks. Sessions were guided by participants' preferences for stimulation.
Interactions with tactile, visual and proprioceptive sensations were encouraged.
Ten control group participants received an equal amount of volunteer visits. MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES: The Functional Reach Test, the eyes-open Sharpened Romberg and
the Timed Up and Go Test with and without dual task, assessed static and dynamic
balance at baseline and after the intervention. Falls frequencies were recorded
six weeks before, during and after intervention. A journal was kept of
observations in Snoezelen room. RESULTS: Split-plot MANOVA analyses revealed no
significant effects of unstructured Snoezelen room sessions on participants'
balance. There were no multivariate effects of time (F(4,14) = 1.13, P = 0.38) or
group (F(4,14) = 0.63, P = 0.65). Group membership did not alter falls frequency.
However, observations of participants' interactions with elements of the
Snoezelen room, such as imagery-induced head and eye movements, vibrating
sensations and kicking activities, captured events that can be used to create
specific multisensory balance-enhancing stimulations. CONCLUSIONS: Although the
null hypothesis was not rejected, further investigation of a potential to influence balance in individuals with dementia through Snoezelen room intervention in long-term care homes is warranted.

Langue : ANGLAIS