The Protac Sensit Chair helps those with Autism & Dementia

The Protac Sensit Chair and Footstool has been specially designed to help users calm, relax and increase their concentration.

Children, adults and elderly users can therapeutically benefit from the chair and its weighted wings that hold close and hug the body, offering calming proprioceptive stimulation. The chair helps users feel more comfortable and confident in their body, how it feels and how it moves, helping them to feel relaxed.

Why is it important for people with Autism or Dementia to keep stimulated and relaxed?

Agitated behaviour can cause difficulties when people are being cared for, disturbing those around them and distressing themselves and people who care for them. Agitation can be triggered by feelings of isolation or situations where the person does not feel comfortable.

Recreational activities can provide people with a chance to feel pleasure and therefore reduce agitation.

Agitation and Apathy are very common signs

Monitoring a person’s behaviour is very important so that activities can be put in place to relax and stimulate them before they become bored and restless. It’s also very important to make sure that the chosen activities are suitable and appropriate for the individual.

Care homes and those caring for people with special needs and disabilities generally use two kinds of recreational activity, both designed to maintain a high quality of life for the end-user:

  • Therapeutic: these sessions are usually led by a therapist or specialist and the main purpose is to help and improve behaviour and ability.
  • Every day: activities that are a part of the persons daily routine, that give structure to their day and to provide entertainment or diversion.

Research studies have found that therapeutic activities have a positive impact on behaviour and do make an overall difference on development. 

Activities in the chair

Old lady sits and relaxes in the protac sensit chair

The Protac Sensit is a suitable size and weight to be moved around into different environments. For example, it is very important for people with Dementia to spend time outside in the fresh air and sunlight, so you can place the chair outside.

Many carers encourage users to complete a puzzle or read whilst sat in the sensit chair, as they are more likely to concentrate and focus with the proprioceptive stimulation and relaxation that the chair brings.

Another perfect way to use the chair is by positioning it in a sensory room, so the user feels at ease to take in the other sensory stimulation around them. You need to be careful here though that not too much is going on, as too much stimulation can create an adverse effect that panics or frightens the user.

Rhino UK is a leading provider of Sensory Solutions and Therapeutic Resources. If you would like us to demonstrate the chair in your care home or establishment please get in touch.

It is as important to us as it is to you that we have the right solutions in place to try and help these people with Autism, Dementia and other cognitive disabilities. 

By Alexandra Eardley, Marketing Coordinator for Rhino UK