In 2010, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched an innovation initiative to bring fresh ideas from VA employees to solve departmental challenges. A therapist working at the VA’s Specialty Care Clinic in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, submitted her proposal for a Snoezelen room to help treat veterans suffering from dementia and related effects. The VA embraced her idea and funded its first room. Please click on the video below to learn the clinic’s amazing story.
Based on the achievements at the Wilkes-Barre facility, the VA contracted in 2013 with FlagHouse, the North American Snoezelen Partner, to furnish and install Snoezelen rooms and mobile equipment in nearly 50 VA medical centers. As news of the projects and the achievements spread, even more VA facilities contracted on their own to offer Snoezelen MSEs to their clients. It has been a deep honor for FlagHouse and its staff to help the veterans gain the quality of life they deserve.
View a sample room design here.
Read the study "Multisensory Stimulation to Improve Functional Performance in Moderate-to-Severe Dementia—Interim Results" from American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias® here.
