Hospital São Sebastião in Santa Maria da Feira has opened three sensory relaxation rooms. These rooms help reduce anxiety and stress. They are designed for patients like pregnant women and seniors with dementia. Hospital staff can also use them when needed. These rooms offer a peaceful retreat in a busy hospital environment.
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Feira Hospital Opens Sensory Rooms
The project cost about 31,000 euros. It was funded by the Recovery and Resilience Programme. The rooms correspond to the basic principles of Snoezelen Multisensory Therapy, which emphasizes regulated sensory stimulation.
They are located in three hospital areas:
- Delivery Room
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation service.
The hospital hopes this initiative will improve patient care and staff well-being. A health professional consults the user first to understand their needs. They then adjust the room accordingly. The main lights turn off, and the room becomes colorful and relaxing, creating a soothing atmosphere.
What Is In The Sensory Rooms?
Each room has special equipment designed to provide comfort and relaxation. There is a water mattress and a massage chair which help users feel at ease. Tall glass columns are filled with glowing liquid and moving air bubbles which will provide a mesmerizing visual effect. The ceiling has twinkling lights that mimic a starry night sky.
Users can interact with fiber optic strands and plasticine to engage their sense of touch. They can also use musical instruments like an umbrella-shaped one that creates soft and soothing sounds. These sensory elements allow people to focus on pleasant stimuli rather than stress or pain.
Relaxing sounds play in the background. These can be whale songs, ocean waves, classical music, or personal favorites, chosen to suit the user’s preference.
Aromas like lavender or citrus fill the air add another layer of relaxation. There are even snacks such as chocolate-covered peanuts and crispy fries for taste stimulation. These features work together to provide a full sensory experience.
Benefits For Patients
Dr. Denise Souza is a neonatologist working on the project. She explains that this is a non-medical method to help anxious and stressed patients. It provides them with a peaceful break from the hospital’s clinical setting and helps restore their emotional balance.
A maternal health specialist Nurse Dulce Brito says the therapy is helpful for many people. It is particularly useful for women going through abortions and mothers of premature babies who often experience anxiety and depression.
It also benefits seniors with dementia, aggressive patients, children with brain injuries, and stroke victims. Additionally, people with chronic lung diseases and mood swings have reported feeling calmer after their sessions.
If a patient cannot go to the sensory room then a mobile unit comes to them. Nurse Ana Patrícia Oliveira explains that the mobile unit contains small, portable sensory items.
It also includes breathing exercises, which help reduce stress. This allows therapy to be delivered in hospital rooms, making it accessible to more patients. Group therapy sessions can also be organized which creates a shared experience of relaxation.
Benefits For Hospital Staff
Hospital staff are under significant stress due to their demanding work. The new rooms are currently available only to staff in the three departments involved. They can use them outside of their working hours to relax and unwind.
Dr. Catarina Aguiar Branco highlights the importance of this initiative. She explains that health professionals are often overworked and exhausted which can lead to sleep problems, stress, and even depression.
Spending time in these rooms can help them recharge. It allows them to return to their duties with more energy and a positive mindset which will ultimately improve patient care.
In the future, the hospital intends to expand this program to include additional employees. In order to maintain a healthy and productive workforce, healthcare professionals must get mental health assistance.
A Staff Member Experience
Fátima Pinho is one hospital worker who has tried the sensory room. She has worked at hospital for 26 years and has seen many changes. Recently she has been going through personal difficulties that have affected her well-being.
She often feels nervous and overwhelmed at work. Fátima decided to try the sensory room to see if it would help her.
She lay on the water mattress and chose silence instead of music. Fátima said:
The hospital is very noisy, and there are always people around. Being in that quiet space was good. It felt peaceful, like I was floating.
She believes that more hospital staff should take advantage of this resource. Fátima added:
We take care of others all the time, but we also need to take care of ourselves
A Mother Story
Juliana Liberali has used the sensory room in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She describes her first visit as very emotional. She sat in a massage chair under the starry ceiling and cried. It was a moment of release after weeks of stress and worry.
Her baby was born very early in Porto. Since she is from Feira, she was transferred here. After a month, her baby’s condition got worse and she became very anxious and depressed. She struggled with feelings of helplessness.
She found comfort in the glowing fiber optic threads. The sensory elements helped her shift her focus and regain a sense of control.
She said
I arrived nervous and cried a lot. Then I played with the threads like I was petting my cat. I listened to the music. I focused on the fish in the water column. I started to calm down.
After her session, she felt so much better that she invited her husband to dinner. She told him about the experience and how it helped her feel more at peace.
He agreed and said:
The hospital is not just taking care of the baby. It is taking care of the mother too.
This support made a significant difference in their journey.
Feira Hospital’s sensory rooms are making a real impact. They provide a calm space for relaxation and emotional relief. Patients dealing with anxiety and emotional distress can find comfort in these rooms. Hospital staff also benefit as they get a chance to unwind and recharge.
