Seniors

Many doctors, nurses, and occupational therapists who advocate for weighted blanket use believe that deep pressure stimulation can stimulate the release of serotonin and endorphins in the brain, thereby elevating mood, much like the sensation one experiences when receiving a hug.

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As a result, many nursing homes, hospital acute psychiatric wards, and caregivers for the elderly are beginning to experiment with using weighted blankets to help calm their anxiety-ridden and agitated patients.

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Sensory Pod Australia supplies numerous mental health facilities and Hospitals throughout Australia with Weighted blankets and toys that can be used at home.

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Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Massachusetts, began using weighted blankets in its psychiatric unit in 2006. The hospital reported that using weighted blankets when patients felt agitated reduced the use of restraints.

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Harvard University also piloted the use of weighted blankets at McLean Hospital's Geriatric Neuropsychiatry Unit. Again, using weighted blankets when elderly anxiety and dementia patients felt agitated reduced their stress and calmed them.

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Weighted blankets are a low-risk way to provide relief to a loved one. They can be used at any time and as often as needed to achieve a calming effect.