We believe that when we plan for tomorrow, we can start living better today. Planning for our future isn’t just about end of life – it’s about supporting our physical and mental wellbeing throughout the rest of our lives.
That includes tuning into the everyday things that support our wellbeing, like what we eat, how we move and even our sensory needs.
In this thoughtful guest article, Wellbeing Practitioner Mel Charters explores how simple sensory experiences – especially through aromatherapy – can make a meaningful difference to our quality of life, including if and when we need care and support from others.
A Sensory Journey
Exploring and acknowledging the importance of our sensory world plays a vital part
in helping us to manage our everyday lives and support others with theirs.
It also enables us to support a person-centred approach to later life planning, of
benefit to both the individual and their carers at all stages, and can complement any
existing care planning.
The scope of this subject is vast, as is the evidence base!
But today, if we look at sensory awareness and wellbeing in everyday life, we can
see how powerful small changes and explorations can be in supporting people’s
wellbeing.
Let us take a look at Aromatherapy.
The term essentially means bringing about a positive physiological therapeutic effect
by means of a fragrance origin, natural or synthetic or a combination.
As an Aromatherapist, I work primarily with essential oils which are the very
concentrated oils derived from plants and resins.
The medium by which these oils can be utilised could be via massage, bathing or
inhalation, with due regard to safe use and appropriate dilution.
Our sense of smell is very powerful and evocative!
A favourite fragrance may invoke a feeling of calm and familiarity, of comfort and
relaxation.
Combined with safe touch, for example gentle hand massage, it can elicit a profound
sense of wellbeing and play a part in helping to address anxiety and support pain
management.
Aromatherapy and massage have long been established in hospices, oncology units
and as part of a tool kit within other multi-disciplinary settings.
Workshops and Taster sessions are fabulous ways of exploring aromatherapy,
eliciting memories, associations, referencing our diverse cultures and traditions;
exploring social history and providing opportunities for connection and sharing.
A person’s profile and personalised care and support planning can incorporate
aspects of aromatherapy and wellbeing which can help a person transitioning to care
facility or adapt to life change.
Some examples.
Pam and Harj
Pam had a fall in her garden.
The resulting hospital admission and stay were very stressful for her as she is fiercely
independent and tends to her garden regularly, getting great joy from it, particularly
her cultivation of rosemary, lavender and other culinary herbs.
Whilst in the hospital, having checked with the care team, Pam’s daughter Harj gave
her mum a gentle hand massage with a lavender oil blend during visits.
She showed Pam a video on her phone of her grandchildren tending to her plants
and having fun with the water hose!
Her daughter packed a dried lavender bag in Pam’s fresh laundry so that the
fragrance would permeate.
David and John
John and his dad David, attend a group for people with moderate dementia and their
carers.
They attend a workshop on Aromatherapy, where David enjoys smelling and
identifying different fragrances and reminiscing about some of the fragrances of his
youth such as Sunlight laundry soap, camphor blocks around his neck for colds and
the smell of hops from the local brewery!
John’s feedback to the staff was that he was surprised and delighted, as he felt that
his dad had been more animated and engaged than he had been for a long time, and
it has given John an insight into conversations and approaches he could adopt at
home with his dad, particularly as a distraction during difficult times and helping to lift
his dad’s mood at other times.
The group also went on a trip to a local museum, which again ignited David’s
memories, and he was an active participant in the reminiscence sessions.
OK, a little thought to finish.
We all benefit from principles of aromatherapy even if we don’t recognise it as
such. Olbas oil, Vicks, perfume, cologne, … And what lures us to the baked goods in supermarkets and coffee shops?!!
By Mel Charters 2025©
Mel is a Wellbeing Practitioner based in the West Midlands. She offers Bespoke Workshops within the Community, including Staff sessions, consultancy and personalised Wellbeing options.
Contact Mel for further details of how she may support your Project or Service: melcharters@msn.com
