Carebase sees positive results from new Sonas sessions

5th October 2011

Carebase has recently incorporated Sonas into its activities, which is giving very encouraging results. Carebase’s Head of Dementia, Suzanne Mumford, implemented the relatively new therapeutic communication earlier this year and all homes are now trained and using Sonas as much as possible.

Sonas focuses on sensory stimulation, including music and touch, in the belief that the senses are the gateways to communication, and is delivered through group and individual sessions. All of the care homes host weekly sessions, which involve cognitive, sensory and social stimulation, with emphasis on abilities rather than disabilities.

The therapy fits perfectly with Carebase’s person-centred approach to care. The therapy fosters familiarity, confidence and an environment in which the person’s communicative potential is activated. Crucially, it enables the practitioner to have a complete focus on the participants.

The results of the Sonas sessions have given some amazing results. Sonas group dynamics have changed at our homes since starting the sessions. Many of the residents recognise the music before the session even begins and have become more confident in themselves, therefore enjoying the sessions more. One of the residents in particular, who used to become agitated and aggressive after some sessions, now recognises the group as her ‘singing group with the ladies’ and is happy to get involved. Importantly she now stays in the lounge and happily socialises more than before after the sessions have finished, demonstrating much calmer behaviour in general since participating.

Another resident, who joined the group after moving into the home in March has benefitted from the sessions helping her to get to know other residents and increase her confidence. She no longer feels as lonely and isolated and really enjoys herself; she knows all of the songs and proverbs and now laughs a lot more both during the session and when she is relaxing in the care home. Her mood has noticeably improved and she seems much more settled in the home, especially after a Sonas session.

The activities coordinators at Queen Elizabeth Park in Guildford have also noticed how beneficial Sonas sessions have been. They have noticed a change in confidence of the residents that have attended the sessions and can see how much they enjoy them.

One lady in particular had been a resident at QEP for three years but had never been out on a trip until she joined the Sonas sessions. The staff believe that the group sessions gave her the confidence she needed to be able to come out on trip. Sadly the resident passed away in mid-May but the staff like to think that the help and guidance she received from the Sonas sessions gave her a better quality of life before she passed away and, in turn, gave her family comfort in this.