Caring for adults with additional needs can be challenging, but there are many ways in which life can be enriched for those you support… and finding new and interesting pastimes and pursuits that they enjoy is half the battle won.

Of course, everyone is different but the majority of people will find pleasure in sensory activities for adults, helping to provide rest and relaxation, as well as mental stimulation, further supporting emotional health and wellbeing through stress reduction and improved focus and concentration.

There are all sorts of different activities you could try and the key is finding the right one for the person you’re caring for… but here are just a couple of ideas from the Halland House team. As ever, if you need any further help or advice, get in touch with the team today.

1. Gardening

One of the very best sensory activities has to be gardening and this is generally something that everyone can participate in, regardless of age and physical ability. Gardening engages all of the senses and is a brilliant way to spend your time – and those in your care are sure to thank you for getting them out and about in nature.

2. Aromatherapy

Using different scents in various ways is a wonderful way to improve sleep and reduce stress levels, as well as helping to ease anxiety and depression.

Consider playing guessing games where people have to work out what fragrance is what, or perhaps try some scent scrapbooking where you talk about different smells that remind you of periods in your life. These scents can then be compiled within the pages of a notebook.

3. Jigsaw puzzles

A quick and easy activity to set up, jigsaw puzzles can help with stress reduction as a very mindful pursuit, allowing people to focus intently on the task at hand.

They also help improve cognitive function and problem-solving skills, as well as spatial reasoning and memory… and they’re easy to do with other people, helping to maintain social connections, as well.