Caregivers in Greenwood, IN

Sensory therapy has become incredibly popular in recent years, taking a strong position within care and therapeutic environments for children and adults alike. This type of therapy utilizes a variety of tools and experiences to stimulate the senses and produce physical and mental benefits. Simply a more specific name for planned mental and physical stimulation, sensory therapy is a powerful way to enhance your caregiver plan and improve your elderly loved ones’ quality of life by supporting better physical health and nurturing a stronger, healthier mind.

There are many tools you can use for sensory therapy, but one of the most popular right now is a product called kinetic sand. Sold under a wide variety of brand names, kinetic sand is regular sand that has been treated with a special non-toxic chemical compound that changes its physical properties so it clings together much like wet sand even when dry, but still pours like dry sand when released. The effect is very much like the common school science experiment of creating ooblek, a viscous combination of corn starch and water cooked down together to produce a non-Newtonian substance that maintains the properties of both solid and liquid when under different circumstances. The addition of sand, however, makes kinetic sand a different tactile experience and opens up a wider world of sensory experiences.

Try some of these ideas for using kinetic sand to stimulate your parents’ minds and bodies:

• Nurture seniors with tactile sensitivities. Adults with tactile sensitivities do not like the sensation of touching different textures, and may become very upset, agitated, or even aggressive when faced with these textures. Allowing these seniors to play with kinetic sand helps to gently introduce them to varying textures in a way that is non-confrontational and fun so they can get better accustomed to the sensation, which can reduce unpleasant reactions later.

• Strengthen the hands. Seniors with arthritis, lingering effects of injuries, or other problems with hand strength, mobility, or fine motor skills can benefit from using kinetic sand to shape three-dimensional items, use a plastic knife to cut mounds into smaller pieces, or flatten out the sand use tools such as a cup to cut it into different shapes.

• Stimulate their creativity. Kinetic sand comes in a wide range of colors, including normal sand color, primary colors, neons, and even ones with glitter. These color variations spark the mind and encourage creative expression. Provide several colors of sand as well as molds and tools so that they can let their imaginations run free and create whatever comes to their mind. Elderly adults are often limited in their imaginative opportunities, but by encouraging your parents to use their imaginations and engage in whimsical, fun, and creative activities you help to strengthen their cognitive processing, critical thinking, memory, and emotive skills.

Another benefit of kinetic sand is that it is extremely easy to clean up. Unlike doughs which can grind into surfaces, the sand sticks to itself so that you can quickly attract pieces and then simply sweep up the rest. Be sure not to get your kinetic sand wet as this will remove the chemical coating and leave you with just plain sand.

The professionals at Great Care are available to talk with you and your family about all of your home care needs. Great Care is a non medical in-home care agency providing quality and affordable caregivers in Greenwood, IN and the surrounding areas. Call (317) 595-9933 for more information.