EmphaSIze June 2025: Older Adults and Sensory Issues
By Sensory Integration Education, 3rd June 2025
Welcome to the June issue of EmphaSIze where this month we're focusing on Older Adults and Sensory Issues!
As we age, changes in our sensory systems are a natural part of the ageing process—but for many older adults, these changes can significantly impact daily life, independence and wellbeing. From reduced vision and hearing to altered touch, balance and proprioception, sensory challenges can influence everything from mobility and communication to emotional regulation and social participation.
This month, we’re exploring the often-overlooked world of sensory issues in older adults. As therapists, we have a vital role in recognising these sensory shifts, adapting environments and supporting individuals to remain engaged, safe and connected.
In this issue, we've put together useful information, articles, books, and product ideas to help better inform ourselves of how sensory differences can affect older adults as well as insights and strategies for helping them to understand and manage their sensory needs.
Also if you’ve not yet checked out our SIE Amazon store, we have a section on product recommendations for older adults which you can access here.
News & Features
Transform Your Career with a Postgraduate Certificate in Sensory Integration!
Applications are now open for the September 2025 intake of our Postgraduate Courses and if you sign up by 29th July, you can benefit from a discounted fee!
Understanding sensory integration can highlight hidden barriers your clients face and give you a new lens to assess, understand and treat in a way that is person-centred and rooted in neuroscience.
Our modular, university-accredited* Postgraduate Certificate in Sensory Integration gives you the knowledge, clinical reasoning and hands-on experience to confidently assess and treat sensory integration and processing challenges using Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) based interventions
If you’re looking to take the next step in your professional journey, click here to find out more about how a PGCert in Sensory Integration can transform the way you practice.
* In partnership with the award-winning Sheffield Hallam University
Enhancing Quality of Life in Care Homes with a Sensory Informed Approach
Sensory processing differences are common among older adults and can significantly impact their ability to engage in everyday activities, particularly in care home settings. Research highlights that many older adults either struggle to register sensory input or are overly sensitive to it, which can affect their participation in social interactions, mealtimes and general wellbeing.
In care homes, where residents have limited control over their environment, it is crucial to recognise and accommodate diverse sensory needs. This includes adapting communal areas, bedrooms and activities to suit both those who require more sensory input and those who are easily overwhelmed.
This blog discusses how a sensory-informed approach in care homes not only supports safety and comfort but also promotes overall health and wellbeing for care home residents.
Sensory Snapshot: The Sensory Experiences of Older People
This is a throwback to a Sensory Snapshot blog published in 2023 which explores the often-overlooked issue of sensory modulation in older adults, particularly when transitioning from their own homes to care settings. While many older individuals unconsciously shape their home environments to suit their sensory preferences—through choices in colour, noise levels, scents, and food—this control is often lost in care homes, where the focus tends to be more on physical safety rather than sensory needs.
The blog highlights the importance of understanding an individual's sensory history and preferences, suggesting tools like sensory profiles or questionnaires to support personalised care.
A Day in the Life of...Mike, a 85-Year Old with Sensory Processing Differences
Our Day in the Life of…. stories illustrate how people living with sensory differences across the lifespan may find those differences impacting their day-to-day lives.
Here we focus on 85-year old Mike who has sensory processing differences and has recently moved into a care home after a number of falls at home left his family concerned that he was not able to manage independently in his own home.
For a big part of his life, Mike participated in adventure sports and he now misses the thrills of skiing down a slope or going on a fast bike ride. Mike’s mobility has declined to the point where he needs a wheelchair for longer distances and going out in the community.
Read Mike’s story in full here to find out more how difficulties with sensory processing and integration can affect older adults in everyday life.
Also see:
‘We need to have a greater awareness of autism in older people’s services’
Dementia-designed care homes and what to look for
Designing a home for neurodiversity and sensory needs
Four things people want from the 10-Year NHS Plan
Resources
Take a look at our books and products recommendations for this month:
Sensory Modulation in Dementia Care: Assessment and Activities for Sensory-Enriched Care: This book will help you understand and assess the sensory needs of people with dementia and how to implement sensory modulation-based approaches for enriched care. It includes a range of sensory-based activities which can be carried out with people at all stages of dementia, both with individuals and in groups. It also provides recommendations for modifying physical environments to make care settings sensory-enriched.
Sharing Sensory Stories and Conversations with People with Dementia - A Practical Guide: Sensory Stories contain just a few lines of text, and are brought to life through a selection of meaningful sensory experiences. This book looks at how sensory engagement can help someone with dementia feel safe and secure, minimise their anxieties, support their cognitive abilities, as well as other benefits. Written at a level suitable for both family members and practitioners and full of practical advice, this book provides everything you need to put Sensory Stories into practice.
Fidget Apron for Older Adults: This fidget apron provides sensory activities and games for people suffering from memory loss, dementia, autism, Alzheimer’s and ADHD. People with Alzheimer’s or dementia can become anxious or nervous when they don’t have something to do with their hands. This apron offers a range of different activities to help relieve anxiety and keep hands busy in a safe and calming way.
Dementia Aquapaints Garden Wonders Set: Relish Garden Wonders Aquapaints is a wonderful dementia activity for older adults including those living with dementia. With a few brushstrokes of water, each painting springs to life with dazzling colors and beautiful scenery, offering a captivating and joyful experience.
SI Research Digest
Below are links to the most popular sensory integration and sensory processing research papers and findings published on our social channels last month:
This new systematic review investigated interoception and mental health in adults over the age of 42 years. The researchers found a correlation between interoceptive differences and depression and more difficulties with emotional regulation in adults who experienced low interoceptive awareness.
A new systematic review which drew on data from 31 studies has found that individuals with ADHD have a higher prevalence of sensory processing difficulties as measured on the Sensory Profile 2 assessment. The researchers recommend that assessing sensory processing in this population would be helpful to understand better the unique functional profiles of individuals with ADHD, including their strengths and weaknesses, and to leverage this understanding to develop individualised interventions which could include adjustments and environmental adaptations.
Screen Habits and Effects on Sensory Profiles in 6- to 36-month-old Toddlers
This new study investigated screen habits in 6-36th month old infants and toddlers and the impact on their sensory profiles. The Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile 2 was used to collect sensory profile data and the dataset comprised of 159 infants and toddlers. An increase duration in direct screen time exposure was linked to sensory differences in the 4 quadrants of the Sensory Profile however the most profound impact was observed in the 6–18-month-old group. Children in this group who had a higher exposure to screen time demonstrated differences in the area of registration of sensory input.
Measuring Interoception from Infancy to Childhood: A Scoping Review
This new scoping review highlights the importance of further research on how interoception is measured to better understand interoceptive sensory differences.
Upcoming Courses and Webinars
We have a number of live webinars that take place throughout the year covering a broad range of SI-related topics. Below is a snapshot of webinars happening over the next few months or click here to view a summary of all the upcoming live events.
All these webinars are available to you by signing up to our Lifelong Learning Programme or can be purchased as individual courses:
- Introduction to the BUSS® (Building Underdeveloped Sensorimotor System) Model – 27 June 2025
- (Sensory Spotlight Talk) The Just Right Reach: Understanding Affordances and Sensory Discrimination in the Process of Praxis with Tracey Murman Stackhouse – 22 July 2025
- SensoRSE- A Sensory Approach to Relationships and Sex Education – 15 September 2025
- (Sensory Spotlight Talk) Sleep and Sensory Processing in Autism with Dr Shelly Lane – 26 September 2025
Latest Job Listings
Are you thinking of making a career move this year? Check out our latest job listing:
Sensory Integration Occupational Therapist, Family Futures CIC, Islington, London, UK
Discounts & Special Offers
Please quote DISCOUNT CODE SIE20 for 10% discount on Southpaw orders up to £100. Orders must be placed by phone on +44 (0) 115 718 0020.
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Best wishes,
Sensory Integration Education
NB: Sensory Integration Education is not responsible for the content on external websites. Sharing a resource does not imply endorsement by Sensory Integration Education.
