INDIVIDUALS

I am an advocate for encouraging wellbeing and fun for people living in aged care and dementia care residences.  My journey as an Art Therapist led me to develop a resource that can be implemented by anyone who wants to bring joy to a person living in care. One to one connection brings health benefits, supports wellbeing and combats loneliness. Let this resource inspire you to connect in new and wonderful ways.

Who is the Sensory Connections box for?

It is for the person in care

What is inside?

• Images to spark conversations or retrieve memories
• A poem or story to engage the mind
• Objects for tactile exploration, sorting or creating
• Hints for the person offering this experience
• A list of questions and key words to keep the conversation rolling
• Clear and simple outlines to colour
• Soft oil pastels for easy application of colour
• Quality art paper for drawing
• Three different themes

What is NOT inside?

Many hours of laughter, conversation and connection

Who can use this activity?

Anyone who wants to bring a smile and some fun to someone they love

Individual boxes

These boxes are designed to be given as a gift to a person in care. There are two boxes to choose from:-  Beach/buttons/birds  or  Stamps/fishing/trees

GIFT – the gift of giving

• Don’t know what to give to a person in care?
• Choose one of the sensory boxes below
• Mothers Day
• Fathers Day
• Christmas
• Anytime gift

and click on it to order

The Sensory Connections box comes complete with a range of items to stimulate and inspire.  It has images, poetry, objects to arrange, art materials and of course tips on how to make the most of your time together.

Sensory Connections

Tips – getting involved

Getting a conversation going, let alone keeping it going, can be tough.  Use the images to awaken memories which can be explored.  If you don’t get past the first image because a wonderful conversation has started – fabulous.  If your person is not able to converse, show the images, talk about them, relate them to recollections in your lives, watch for recognition.  All connections are good connections.

A poem can be read twice, once to get the feel of it and the second time to listen to the details. The rhythm of poetry is soothing. Poetry paints a picture or maybe your person recognises it and will recite it or read with you.

A fable or story may be included and is a nice way to sit with the person you care about and read quietly to them. Share your thoughts about the story.

Tactile objects are in several boxes and range from bits of trees to buttons and stamps. Feel the items, chat about them. Guess what trees they come from. If you have the buttons have fun using the felt to create patterns, to sort the buttons into different colours or perhaps into sizes.

If you have the stamps there is a black stamp page to arrange them. They can be arranged in sizes or value or colour, any number of ways. Explore them all.

Both boxes will include oil pastels and outlines to colour in. The outlines are simple and bold for those with low vision. Create a colouring corner, grandkids love to colour and give their artwork. There is blank art paper to explore.

Please make regular use of these sensory boxes so that a pattern is formed and connections multiply.

Remember that this experience is limited only by your imagination.

Aged Care and Dementia Care

Keep your residents engaged and give your visitors a sense of purpose.

Harness the energy of your visitors, give them the tools to engage and have fun with the people they love. This handcrafted set of boxes allows a range of experiences to impact your residents in a positive and enjoyable way.

Themed boxes

Gone fishing

• Introduction and tips
• Questions and key words
• Images
• A poem – Gone fishing
• A fable – The shining fish
• Oil pastels and art paper

Australian birds

• Introduction and tips
• Questions and key words
• Images
• A poem – Birds in my garden
• Outlines for colouring
• Oil pastels and art paper

FAQs

What is a Sensory Connections box?

• A handcrafted, themed box of sensory experiences
• A resource for a care facility to offer to volunteers, visitors and care staff
• A tool for family members to engage with their person in care
• Australian made and professionally developed

Who is the Sensory Connection Box for?

It is for the person in care and their visitor/volunteer/carer and provides connection through themed topics using several sensory modes.

What is contained in the Sensory Connections box?

Each box has a different theme and several of the following would be included, encouraging a variety of engagement.

• Images
• Objects with a tactile purpose
• Poetry
• Fables or stories
• Oil pastels
• Outlines to colour
• Art paper for drawing
• Instructions on how to use the box
• Feedback forms to enable continuing improvement
• Contact details

Features

• Sturdy and stackable
• Different themes
• Art supplies can be replenished
• Variety of experiences in each box
• Resource for volunteers and care staff

How durable is the Sensory Connection Box?

The box is sturdy and can be wiped clean.  The instructions, poetry, images and some objects are laminated.  Other items will be packed in snap lock bags or cloth bags.

What are the different themes?

Each box has a different theme.  The theme is indicated on the outside of the box. 

Themes offered are – A Day at the Beach, Trees, Gone Fishing, Collections and Australian Birds. 

Each theme has been developed with the goal of encouraging participants to reconnect with their memories and experiences and to provide stimulating interaction.

How many times can the box be used?

There will be enough pastels and items to colour or draw for many individual sessions.  Many people may not engage in the art and will find connection with the images, items and poetry.  Consumables can be replenished allowing unlimited use of this resource.

Aims / Benefits

• To engage the person in care
• To offer connection and engagement on many sensory levels
• To offer a sense of purpose to the visitor
• To encourage the visitor to participate in the wellbeing of the person they care about
• To encourage longer and/or more frequent visits
• To be a tool for volunteers and staff
• Can be upgraded to be used in group situations

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