Snoezelen is a multisensory environment designed to stimulate the primary senses of touch, taste, sight, sound, smell, and movement without the need for intellectual activity. With the help of a favorable environment a sense of confidence and relaxation is created.

The word Snoezelen is not a scientific name. It comes from the two Dutch words "snuffeln" - sniff, look; and "doezelen" - snooze, relax. Initially, Snoezelen’s multisensory rooms and products had no purpose other than to provide pleasure, but over the past 30 years, their use has expanded and is now aimed at individuals of all ages and abilities. Extensive research done by top therapists and institutions around the world has shown the positive effects of Snoezelen in people with:

• Mental illnesses
• Autism
• ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
• Chronic pain
• Dementia
• Acquired brain disorders (ABI)
• Impaired motor skills

The word Snoezelen is used to describe a set of multisensory tools from which various sensory environments can be created. Although Snoezelen is often recognized as a room specifically designed to stimulate all the senses, it is important to remember that this equipment can be adapted to everyday life or used as part of the environment. Anyone can experience Snoezelen regardless of their age, ability, or previous treatment.

The goal of Snoezelen is to stimulate a variety of sensations to relax and calm down, while also encouraging patients to pay attention to their environment, to increase excitement, to motivate, and to encourage exploration.

Studies have shown that Snoezelen:

• Stimulates sensations
• Is an alternative to medicine and isolation
• Increases functionality, awareness, and attention
• Improves appetite, memory, recognition, and language
• Strengthens the feeling of happiness
• Requires movement, posture changes
• Improves relationships
• Reduces aggression, coercion, anxiety, and distraction

"Snoezelen" is a sensory space or room, usually white, filled with soft and vibrating furniture, special projectors that create special lighting effects and colors, audio equipment with relaxing music, and aromatherapy equipment with various scents. Currently, Snoezelen sensory rooms can be found in many facilities including kindergartens, neonatal intensive care units, hospitals, child development centers, nursing hospitals, general education schools, nursing and care facilities, as well as special needs schools.

Mental health departments are also beginning to use and evaluate the benefits of multisensory rooms. Treatment with the help of these rooms is included in treatment plans, emphasizing safety, and fear of crises. Effects and activities help prevent staff from interfering in a person’s self-regulatory process.

Care homes and retirement homes also understand that touch rooms can have a positive effect. A visit to the Snoezelen Room can help reduce excitement and impatience, especially for those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s, and improve their quality of life. Institutions that care for and care for older people who naturally suffer from normal aging, as well as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, are likely to find that introducing more constructive sensory activity into daily life is also helpful in keeping the mind and brain active.

If you have decided to develop a Snoezelen environment in your office or home, contact us. At UAB "Slaugivita", we are ready to provide you with assistance at all levels: from the idea to the installation of the equipment and training in its use. To give you a better idea of what your Snoezelen room will look like, we will provide you with an individual Snoezelen room design.

Slaugivita - solutions that pay off!