The sensory room, at Cygnet Sherwood Lodge, on Rufford Colliery Lane, Mansfield, will provide a relaxing and enjoyable space for patients to unwind in. The room includes sensory features, with the aim of enhancing patient wellbeing.
Equipment inside the room was all chosen by the service users themselves. It includes; Bubble tubes, scented diffuser, sound machine, mindfulness resources, sensory fidgets, cuddle balls, dimmable and mood lighting, soft furnishings and infinity mirrors.
Head of Care Charlie-Leigh Short said the room will help service users to relax, reduce anxiety and create a space for service users who may find clinical environments challenging.
She explained: “The patients had recognised that they needed a quiet calming space in the hospital where they could go to self-regulate and relax.
“They explained to staff that sometimes the ward can be overstimulating and result in sensory overload due to the levels of noise and behaviours which are often common in busy hospital environments.
“We re-purposed an old, underused space on the ward which has now been re-designed to provide a safe space that will improve the overall experience of our service users.
“The service users have worked collaboratively to help specifically design the space which aims to provide controlled sensory stimulation through various elements like lighting, sounds, textures, smells and items for visual and vestibular stimulation, allowing individuals to engage and regulate their senses.
“Everyone has worked incredibly hard to create the sensory room and we’re really looking forward to the positive difference it will make to our service users, staff and the environment.”
