By Kelly Yates
Right: Henry Nicholson tests the new sensory room at Casey Hospital. 53844
Pictures: Kim Cartmell
A NEW sensory room at Casey Hospital in Berwick will be used to improve the care of dementia patients.
The hospital’s hard-working volunteer group raised money for the sensory room, which provides a safe environment for “confused patients who need distraction”, says Southern Health’s chief executive Siva Sivarajah.
“It eases the distress that confused patients often experience in the acute hospital environment, and promotes recovery,” he said.
The sensory room at the Kangan Drive hospital was opened last Friday.
Mr Sivarajah said the number of patients in Australia with dementia is projected to grow to more than a million over the next few decades.
“A working group was formed in 2008 to raise awareness and educate staff on this important issue, which affects every community in Australia,” Mr Sivarajah said.
“The working group requested additional resources to help provide better care for these patients.
“We have been able to create a sensory room and put together a number of diversional resource kits and activity boxes for the general wards.”
Southern Health plans on opening another sensory room at Monash Medical Centre Clayton in October.
