Background Developing services to deliver personalised care for patients and visitors has been at the forefront of an in-depth diversity and inclusion project. Lack of indoor sensory spaces was highlighted for those living with cognitive and visual impairments, anxiety, dementia and learning disabilities.

Aim Transform hospice space, providing patients and visitors with an area to relax, creating multi-sensory experiences adapted to a person’s individual requirements.

Method Grant applications submitted to purchase specialist sensory equipment were successful with £20,000 received, primarily to aid, enhance and support health and wellbeing for more people in our hospice. The grants enabled the scoping and purchasing of specialist mobile equipment, rather than a static sensory room. Therefore, equipment is used across departments and accessible to all, including in-patient unit, day services, and family and bereavement support. Likewise, mobile equipment can be assembled in a specified room during holistic therapies or group activities.

Results The equipment consists of a deluxe sensory unit, containing bubble tubes, lights, aroma diffuser, music and projector. Additional mobile bubble tubes, lights, diffusers, music, projectors, VR headset, weighted duvet, sensory weighted chair and footstool and projector wheels were also purchased. The chair and footstool have received positive feedback from staff and patients.

‘We have used the chair with a patient living with dementia. I had tried it myself and found it comforting but even so I was really surprised with how quick the calming effect was for our patient’

The chair stimulates senses, providing feelings of safety and security. Filled with balls the pressure increases tactile, muscle and joint sensations, sending impulses to the central nervous system resulting in improved feelings of wellbeing. We have identified an increased number of patients and visitors who will use this equipment whilst improving staff awareness about the therapeutic benefits of sensory spaces in adult hospices.