Soft lights, harmonious sounds, delicate aromas and vibrations that lull the body and mind. At the San Giovanni di Dio hospital, in the Palliative Care and Pain Therapy Center, a room has been created that is unlike any other: it is called “Stanza Serena” and is the first Snoezelen space in Sardinia , designed to offer patients an immersive experience of relief and relaxation.

The name Serena has a double meaning: it recalls the serenity that it promises to those who enter it, but it is also a tribute to a young patient who is no longer with us. "This room was also born thanks to the generosity of her parents - says palliative oncologist Maria Cristina Deidda - who wanted to honor her memory with a donation to the ODV Vestiamoci di Vita association".

In the Center, which registers approximately 6 thousand accesses every year , adults and children with serious disabilities or advanced oncological pathologies can access this environment where the five senses are stimulated in a synergistic way: an approach that, as confirmed by Gabriele Finco, director of Anesthesia and Resuscitation at the AOU of Cagliari, acts on the cerebral cortex promoting relaxation and reducing chronic pain.

Multisensory rooms, born in Holland with the term Snoezelen, from “snuffelen” (to explore) and “doezelen” (to relax), have proven useful for improving mood, concentration, communication with caregivers and quality of life.

"It is an environment designed for everyone," explains Deidda, "and is aimed in particular at those undergoing palliative care, both in the early and terminal phases. The benefits are tangible: in many cases there is a reduction in anxiety and up to 40% less perceived pain."

(Unioneonline/Fr.Me.)