|
Comfort Rooms |
|
Comfort Rooms
What is a Comfort Room?
Comfort Rooms were developed at South Florida State Hospital in the early 90s as a means of using old seclusion rooms developed to be a prevention tool to avoid the use of seclusion and restraint. Comfort rooms are distinguished from “time out” rooms or “quiet rooms” as they are strictly voluntary and used by people who want to use them for sanctuary, to get away, have quiet space and to reduce stress. It is a place where people can experience their feelings within acceptable boundaries, and where persons can participate in a variety of activities of their own choice.
The concept of comfort rooms differs from sensory rooms though there are many similarities. Sensory rooms require professional oversight with use of specially designed materials developed to enhance sensory integration. Comfort rooms, on the other hand, are developed as self-help projects. They are most successful when the participants who use the rooms help to design them and to develop policies for their use. They also make choices regarding what types of activities they wish to engage in; most often, this will be listening to music, reading, doing artwork, crossword puzzles, and a myriad of other possibilities according to individual and group requests.
Comfort rooms are an excellent task for peer specialists, if hired, as they can promote the use of the rooms and help to maintain them. Comfort rooms are always pleasant places with nice warm or bright colors, paintings, and comfortable chairs. The challenge now is to create other comfort strategies and environmental changes in other parts of facilities
Creation of Comfort Rooms includes:
Integrating the use of personal safety plans and general safety factors Developing the room in stages Designing them with color and furnishings that are relaxing Lending the room to a variety of uses including music, reading, etc. Peer Specialists are perfect to help develop and maintain rooms Use of “Comfort Carts” or kits Integrating creative strategies and the arts Paying attention to other areas of the environment
A detailed guide, PowerPoint presentation and the personal safety plan are included in this website for download by clicking below:
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION “Comfort and Comforting Environments”
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION “Comfort Room Photographs and Environmental Ideas ”
COMFORT ROOM GUIDE An excellent guide developed in the state of New York. Includes ideas and instructions for implementation with examples of comfort rooms in different facilities.
Comfort Rooms: Reducing the Need for Seclusion and Restraint https://www.cwla.org/programs/groupcare/rgcqspring2005.pdf
|