BEST OF THE BEST RECOGNITION


addition to smells, we use touch, sounds, color, light, and taste to provide a multi-sen- sory experience for each participant that is focused on their personal wellbeing and preferences,” she says. The program has been well received by


Senior Lifestyle’s residents, team, and fam- ily members. Residents and families benefit from the one-on-one time with their Essence directors and are experiencing increased satisfaction and positive outcomes. “Resi- dents have benefited in a variety of ways from the program including but not lim- ited to elevated mood, reduced stress, im- provements with restlessness, and decreased anxiousness,” Thieverge says. “Typical par- ticipant reactions during and post session include increased verbalization, excitement, attentiveness, expressions of personal enjoy- ment, and relaxation.” An expansion of the program will take


The Essence program offers a series of signature essential oil blends in spritzers, sprays, body oils, lotions, and creams.


QUALITY IMPROVEMENT Company: Senior Lifestyle Corporation Program: Essence Aromatherapy Program


The Essence Program by Senior Lifestyle Corporation is a sensory stimulation program based on aromatherapy principles. The use of essential oils either applied to the skin or inhaled can be an effective complementary therapy for dementia-related conditions such as sleep disturbance and agitation. Essence offers a series of signature blends


using essential oils in the form of spritzers and sprays, body oils, lotions or creams in a variety of scents. Each signature blend is designed to stimulate specific responses or support a specific participant concern. For example, Wild Orange has an energizing aroma and may support healthy digestion, promote peaceful sleep, support a healthy appetite, and may help ease feelings of wor- ry, fear, and anxiety. During the eight-week enrollment peri-


od, each participant receives a personalized plan and attends a session one time per week. Each participant session may use one


36 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE / ISSUE 2 2017


or more of the compositions and applications depending on the plan developed for that person. “Each participant session is a unique experience with the use of essential oils at its core,” says Hollie Thieverge, Senior Lifestyle Corporation’s corporate director of resident experience. “The personalized participant plan details which blends will be used, how those blends will be applied, and how the sensory room will be set up.” Participation in the Essence program


may reduce the need for pharmacological interventions, raise awareness of concerns associated with resident conditions, address those concerns in a holistic way, and include residents’ families in the solutions. While essential oils must be used carefully,


they have shown good results when properly implemented. Senior Lifestyle Corporation consulted existing research, best practices, and professional experts as resources for develop- ing this one-of-a-kind program. The goal is to provide a sensory-based program with the potential to complement existing treatments for residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Although it is based on aromatherapy,


Thieverge explains that Essence goes be- yond the simple use of essential oils. “In


place in 2017 with additional communities being trained to offer Essence. Additional- ly, the number of signature blends offered will continue to grow as Senior Lifestyle expands on the number of conditions they seek to support through the program. The company is also researching ways to improve the spaces in which the program is offered. Enhancements may include in- stalling water features, adjustable lighting, mood-influencing color schemes, and more.


“Residents have benefited in a variety of ways from the program including but not limited to elevated mood, reduced stress, improvements with rest- lessness, and decreased anxiousness,” says Hollie Thieverge, Senior Life- style Corporation's corpo- rate director of resident experience.


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