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1. Definition of the term " snoezelen "

2. Principles

3. How snoezeling can affect Alzheimer patients

4. Sensual perception, feelings

5. Stimulation

6. Possible materials for snoezeling - suggestion and practical examples  

1.       ) Definition

The verb " snoezelen " was developed from the Dutch language. It was invented for the first time in the 60's by Hulseggee and Verheul and is used for certain activities in the work with gravely mentally handicapped adults.

snuffelen = sniff , snuffle
doezeleln = doze , slumber

It concerns  work with people, whose mental abilities are more or less strongly reduced. The senses of the patients are to be directed , co-ordinated, and stimulated as needed by the particular individual.

a) therapeutically 

b) individual relaxation / stimulation  

2. Principles

By snoezeling the patients are addressed through the senses, by optical and acoustic stimulations , by the senses of smell and taste, as well as by the emotions.

- it requires a pleasant atmosphere, and isolation from external attractions .

- the reference person has to be convinced of the snoezelen method as a possibility when working  

  with dementia patients.

- the mutual relationship must be right.

- duration and quality of stimulation depend on the individual patient.  

3. How "snoezeling" can affect Alzheimer patients

When working with dementia patients, the reference person, especially family members, often approve helplessness. The patients are aggressive, restless  and so on.

By snoezeling -  Verheul describes it as intentional and directed offering of primary stimulation in a pleasant atmosphere - you can realise that patients get more quiet and less afraid of their threatening surroundings.

It has to be said that this is not a case of simple handling.
As a family member you know the patient´s biography , have possibly participated in the major part of his life. You know this patient´s likes and dislikes, what he liked doing, which particular stimulations may be connected with pleasant moments in his life .

4.Stimulation

Perception is made by the senses:

Hearing
Seeing
Smelling
Tasting
Touching (palpation)

Everybody has feelings which can be expressed in joy, fear, mourning, rage.
Perception is very closely connected to feelings.

The intellectual abilities of people as thinking, remembering, arranging things logically are reduced with dementia patients. In certain moments however the memory is activated by means of the senses or emotions. 

Tasting

Bitter, salty, sweet, sour and - as a special form - soapy.
The perception is made by the tongue. Taste and smell are very closely connected.
Example: Food has a certain taste .

Smelling

Certain situations or experiences are connected with smells, are experienced as pleasant or unpleasant. Pictures of earlier situations rise in the memory.
Example: It smells like...... Christmas (cinnamon, pine cones, roasted apple)
(reference: Flavour therapy  as the direct application)

Tactile sense

Tactile perception is developed very early. We feel squeezes, pressure, warmth, cold, contact. Experience of the own body by touching.

Seeing

Through the eyes we detect pictures that are being stored in the brain. We remember places and faces. With the dementia patients this often fades and the connection can no longer be made. For example : mistaking of persons and places. Light and colours however are realised as pleasant or unpleasant, they calm down or stimulate.  

5. Stimulation

a) Seeing

Distinction of colours, shapes or objects.
Examples: Liquid projectors, disco globes, mobiles, materials, dolls, balloons, balls,

b) Hearing

Perception of sounds, tones and noises
Examples: Sound pipes, music instruments (rattles, xylophone and others) small containers with rattling/clinking material, sound walls, gloves with little bells etc.

c) Smelling

Distinction of different flavours and smells, direct application in the flavour therapy.
Examples: Flavour oils, herb pouch, spices, materials with intensive smell etc..

d) Touching

Differentiation of bodies and objects by touching and palpation (cross reference to basal stimulation)
Examples: Massaging rollers, furs,  gloves filled with water, balls, palpation boards with different surfaces, (fashion) jewellery etc.

e) Tasting

Distinction of different and opposite versions of taste.
Examples: Food with pronounced taste versions 

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