Care home sensory room changes everyday moments in dementia care
23 Oct 2026
3 min read
This #GoodNewsFriday we hear about how the creation of a sensory room is helping shape dementia care.
Thistle Court Care Home has created a sensory room within to support people through touch, sound, light and reassurance. The room was created with advice from Dementia UK, Alzheimer's Society and local Community Psychiatric Nurses, helping the team consider what might be engaging, safe and accessible for different people.
The room contains sensory lights, textured materials, sequin boards, fidget items, soft furnishings and interactive features which can be adapted depending on the individual using the room.
The home also created a sensory trolley so experiences could still be brought to people elsewhere in the home or garden if they were unable to access the room itself.
Since opening, the room has become part of everyday life at Thistle Court. For some, it offers a quieter space during moments of distress. For others, it has become somewhere to sit with relatives, have a cup of tea or listen to music away from the noise and movement of the home.
One experience that stayed with the team involved the grandson of a family member living at the home. The young boy, who is autistic and has ADHD, initially found the environment overwhelming and struggled to stay for more than a few minutes during visits. Now their visits take place in the sensory room, giving the family extra time together where everyone feels comfortable. Home Manager Sarah Butfield said:
Two years on and it’s still such an important space within the home, we’ve seen people spend longer with their families, we’ve seen people feel calmer, and we’ve seen how much difference the environment around someone can make.
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