Langkawi Gazette

New Snoezelen® at Langkawi General Hospital

What is "SNOEZELEN" ?

The concept of SNOEZELEN® was defined in the late 1970’s by two Dutch therapists, Jan Hulsegge and Ad Verheul while they were working at the De Hartenberg Institute in Holland, a centre for people with intellectual disabilities. At the Institute’s annual summer fair, Hulsegge and Verheul set up an experimental sensory tent filled with simple effects such as a fan blowing shards of paper, ink mixed with water and projected onto a screen, musical instruments, tactile objects, scent bottles, soaps, and flavourful foods. It was a tremendous success, especially with low-functioning clients who demonstrated positive verbal and non-verbal feedback. The therapists called this multi-sensory experience “snoezelen,” a contraction of the Dutch verbs “snuffelen” (to seek out or explore) and “doezelen” (to relax).

The basic concept was intended to provide people who have sensory and learning disabilities with appropriate relaxation and leisure facilities. The word evokes a vague, indefinable feeling of sensory well-being and has come to be commonly used to describe any multi-sensory room.

The Snoezelen® environment and its use has gradually spread throughout the world in a wide range of situations within health, education and social service settings Growth and Acceptance - Snoezelen® has now grown into a worldwide movement in over 30 countries with thousands of installations.
  

In 2006 Tasputra Perkim Day Care Centre for Handicapped Children was the first to install and utilise a Snoezelen® in Malaysia. The mega 'Ronald McDonald House Charities® has already sponsored 8 Snoezelen in Malaysia and wish to open one in every state. P & G' 'Open Mind Program' want to open 14 multi therapy rooms throughout Malaysia.
   

The new Snoezelen® at Langkawi General Hospital

The new Snoezelen® at Langkawi General Hospital, donated by KELAB AMAL WANITA LANGKAWI (est. 1991), will offer clients on Langkawi this unique therapy where they can engage and interact with the equipment. The room is equipped with:-

• 2 metre bubble tube which allows the client to change the background colour and watch the
  bubbles rise in the tube – visual stimulation;
• fan panel that blows out small ribbons – visual & tactile stimulation;
• touch panel of soft carpeting with ever changing coloured lights – visual & tactile stimulation;
• multi-coloured strings of fibre optic lights that can be held or draped around the patient –
  visual & tactile stimulation;
• ceiling mirror ball reflecting a pattern around the room – visual stimulation;
• soothing, coloured images projected onto the wall – visual stimulation;
• aromatherapy diffuser perfuming the air – olfactory stimulation and relaxation therapy;
• soothing music – hearing stimulation;

The room is within the Physiotherapy department of Langkawi General Hospital, qualified physiotherapists have gone through Snoezelen® training as part of their syllabus, and a member of staff will accompany each client in the room on a one-to–one basis. Clients will need to be referred by their GP’s to be able to use and benefit from this lovely colourful, magical and fairy tale like facility.

CLIENT SUITABILITY INCLUDES:
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS i.e. Down's syndrome, dyslexia, autism
MENTAL HEALTH
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
PAIN CONTROL
STROKE AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
DEMENTIA

Our President and members have worked very hard since 2008, mainly on small projects and, despite the recession, are very proud to donate this worthwhile facility to the people of Langkawi Island.

KELAB AMAL WANITA LANGKAWI (est. 1991) would like to express a big THANK YOU to all the generous small local businesses and private individuals of Langkawi who have been badgered and hounded over the years by our diligent members, some many times over, to dig deep into their pockets to sponsor, donate or support our events to make this and other KELAB AMAL WANITA LANGKAWI projects possible.

(*Please note that KELAB AMAL WANITA LANGKAWI (est. 1991) and Kelab Amal Langkawi are two different Charity Clubs)