The Complementary Contributions of Sensory Stimulation and Social Support During Snoezelen Room Therapy on the General Physical and Emotional Health of the Elderly Population: Optimization of the Nursing Home Resources.

Over time, lifespan is extending, the population is aging, and accordingly there is a great demand for hospital beds in nursing homes, increasing attention to this population and the services they receive. Mostly, elderly population living in nursing homes suffers from dementia, Alzheimer, depression, agitation, and other diseases that require multidisciplinary treatment. In addition to the medical and pharmacological treatments that patients receive to maintain functional medical status, there is a great need for non-pharmacological treatments, that may improve quality of life, mental well-being, and life satisfaction. There are several treatment approaches of multisensory stimulation environment (MSSE). MSSE in the Snoezelen room therapy recognized as benefiting the patients' physical, mental, and emotional health status. In addition, there is great importance of intervention by social interaction, support, and encouragement. However, the effect of combined intervention of MSSE in Snoezelen room therapy and social support, has not yet been sufficiently studied in elderly patients in nursing homes. These two interventions - together - are supposed to have an increased effect on physical and mental wellbeing of elderly.