Sensory lighting is any form of lighting which has a positive impact on any person with cognitive impairments from young babies to the elderly.
In 1966 two American psychologists, Cleland and Clark, were the first to question whether sensory stimulation could actually promote cognitive development and help with behavioural issues such as hyperactivity. they introduced multi sensory environments addressing the 4 senses ; sight, sound, smell and touch.
Shortly after that in 1970, Verheul and Hulsegge from the Netherlands also suggested that multi sensory environments could impact greatly on the quality of life of those with more severe disabilities.
While in some countries Multi-Sensory rooms have consistently grown in popularity over 30 years and are well established it is only in recent years in the USA that multi sensory spaces are being acknowledged as hugely beneficial for sensory impaired patients of all ages and with the ageing population they are set to become an expected facility in care homes for the elderly and those suffering from dementia.
The American Association of Multi Sensory Environments – http://www.aamse.us/
The AAMSE has a wealth of information on multi-sensory environments and we recommend a visit to their website.
‘AAMSE is a professional organization dedicated to the promotion, research, understanding, appreciation, application and science of Multi Sensory Environments (MSE).’ – taken from the AAMSE website.
We have started putting some links to interesting case studies and articles below and will continue adding to these so please revisit soon!
Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_room
Boosting use of multi-sensory environments in dementia care
http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/research/readwatchlisten/features/helpingpeoplewithdementia/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-13410757
multi-sensory rooms for deafblind