From Holland to Jerusalem
Two years ago, a new world came into being for Tovei Ha’ir residents and visitors to the Brain Care Center. The Snoezelen room was originally developed in Holland by a father who conceived the room for his son, who had special needs. The word Snoezelen is a combination of two words in Dutch— ‘’to sniff’’ and ‘’to doze.’’ Elderly individuals who have dementia are often agitated or behave erratically. This kind of treatment includes sensory stimulation, creates a balance between activity and relaxation, reduces stress and arouses positive behavior.
The room offers a unique multi-sensory environment, including equipment for multi-sensory stimulation, background music, lights and elements from the worlds of aromatherapy and reflexology. Tovei Ha’ir’s Snoezelen room includes interactive projections on the table or floor: the photos react to the movements of a hand or a leg and a visit can become a shared experience as, for example, the patient plays ball with his grandson. Laying in a sofa with your legs up, a vibrating cushion at your back, reflexology, and the calming scent of lavender—all these can take the patient from feelings of sadness, pain or loneliness to hope, renewed energies and a positive mindset. The room can be used for individual or group sessions of 20-30 minutes.