In July, Queens View Harbour Care Home in Troon welcomed Jen from Neon Skies Party Planning & Events for a special Secret Garden Sensory afternoon. Our Cinema Room was transformed into an immersive garden-inspired environment, giving residents the opportunity to enjoy a range of sights, sounds and scents in a completely different setting.
Sensory experiences like this can be a meaningful part of life in a care home, particularly for residents living with dementia. Engaging different senses can provide opportunities for enjoyment, relaxation and connection, while familiar sights, sounds and scents can sometimes bring back memories and encourage conversation.
Throughout the afternoon, residents were able to take their time exploring the different elements of the Secret Garden experience. Jen made sure everyone could take part in a way that suited them, creating an inclusive experience where residents could engage as much or as little as they wished.
The different sensory elements also provided natural prompts for conversation. A familiar scent, sound or visual detail can remind someone of a place, person or experience from their past, giving them an opportunity to share memories and stories with those around them. For residents living with dementia, these moments of reminiscence can be particularly valuable, helping to support communication and social connection.
Sensory activities can also provide gentle stimulation without relying on complex instructions or tasks. This can make them accessible to people with different abilities and stages of dementia, allowing everyone to enjoy the experience in their own way. The focus is not on completing an activity, but on enjoying the moment and responding to what the senses are experiencing.
For residents at Queens View Harbour, the Secret Garden afternoon offered exactly that. There was time to explore, talk, reminisce and simply enjoy something a little different together. It was wonderful to see how the experience encouraged engagement and conversation throughout the afternoon.
The session was such a success that Jen and the Neon Skies team were invited back for our It’s A Knockout event with residents and staff, which was another enjoyable occasion. We are also looking forward to welcoming them back to Queens View Harbour in November for our Harvest Moon event.
Sensory experiences are just one of the many ways we can create meaningful moments for residents, supporting individual interests, encouraging social connection and helping everyone feel involved in life at the home.
If you’d like to find out more about activities and daily life at Queens View Harbour Care Home in Troon, get in touch with our friendly team today to arrange a visit.
