Variability in response to older people with dementia to both Snoezelen and reminiscence

Snoezelen and reminiscence are interventions commonly used by occupational therapists in dementia care. Snoezelen is reported to have a positive effect on patients' mood and their behaviour, in particular on agitated behaviour. A study was designed to assess the effects of Snoezelen on agitated behaviour in dementia. Reminiscence therapy was selected as a suitable comparison intervention, which would enable the benefits of Snoezelen other than those attributable to receiving one-to-one attention from staff to be evaluated. There was found to be considerable variation in the direction and magnitude of change in individual participants' agitated behaviour and heart rate during and after the sessions. This article considers the possible explanations for these individual differences and the practical implications of this research.