Therapeutic Impact of Snoezelen Environments on Emotional Outcomes and Pain in Long-Term Care Residents with and Without Dementia

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Older adults living in long-term care facilities are at increased risk of reduced psychoemotional well-being. Snoezelen multisensory environments have been proposed as person-centered interventions, although evidence remains inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Snoezelen environments on biopsychosocial outcomes in older adults living in long-term care facilities with and without dementia. METHODS: A mixed-methods, quasi-experimental repeated-measures design was applied. Participants completed eight sessions over four weeks with a self-controlled comparison phase. Quantitative analyses examined pre-post intervention and pre-post session effects in physiological measures, pain perception, psychoemotional domains, functional status and quality-of-life outcomes. Data from focus groups with participants and professionals were analyzed thematically. RESULTS: Session-level analyses revealed improvements in emotional expression, psychoemotional outcomes, and pain perception following sessions. Qualitative findings supported these results. No pre-post intervention effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Snoezelen multisensory environments provide immediate psychoemotional benefits and pain reduction in older adults living in long-term care facilities with and without dementia. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: When implemented on demand or preventively, Snoezelen multisensory environments may serve as complementary, person-centered interventions in long-term care settings.