St Modans Is Redefining Wellbeing Through Sensory Innovation

At Meallmore, we pride ourselves on doing things differently. Across our homes, we challenge traditional approaches to care, striving to create spaces that support not only the clinical needs of our residents but their emotional, social, and psychological well-being, too. And nowhere is this commitment to innovation clearer than at St Modans Care Home in Fraserburgh, where a bold and ambitious project has brought to life a state-of-the-art sensory room – and with it, a whole new way of delivering care.

A Vision Rooted in Person-Centred Practice

St Modans is a 65-bed nursing home providing care across three specialised areas: acquired brain injury (ABI), nursing, and dementia care. Recognising the complexity and individuality of the people they support, the team at St Modans embarked on a journey in April 2023 as part of Meallmore’s Strive to Achieve Excellence (SAE) programme. Their goal? To build a sensory room that would offer a safe, soothing space to reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance engagement — all through tailored, non-pharmacological support.

But this wasn’t just about a new room but about changing the game.

Innovation Through Evidence and Empathy

The project began with a deep dive into the needs of the residents. Using the PAL (Pool Activity Level) tool, the team assessed the cognitive and activity levels of every individual living at St Modans. It quickly became apparent that over 50% of residents were most responsive to sensory or reflex-level activity, sparking the idea to create a space that met those needs directly.

With no comparable sensory environments available locally for elderly care, the team visited specialist settings outside the sector and partnered with sensory room designers Spacekraft to plan a bespoke experience at St Modans.

Bringing the vision to life meant mobilising the team and the wider community. Over the course of a year, colleagues, residents and families raised funds through events such as quiz nights, summer fetes, Halloween parties and even an assault course challenge. The success of this effort speaks volumes about the support and dedication of the community around St Modans.

The result? A beautifully equipped sensory room filled with light, sound, textures and movement - all carefully curated to deliver therapeutic value and tailored experiences.

Data-Driven, Heart-Led Outcomes

Once the sensory room was open in April 2024, the team committed to measuring its real impact. Over a three-month period, they reviewed the experience of five residents through care notes, observations, and family feedback while also tracking their use of medication.

The results were powerful.

Take FD, a resident living with vascular dementia. In April, FD required medication 28 times. In May, after regular sessions in the sensory room, that number fell to 17. By June, it had dropped to just two. In their own words, FD said the room was “exactly how I like it,” highlighting the power of a personalised sensory experience that included soft lighting, calming music and tactile equipment.

Another resident, JD, who had previously withdrawn from social interaction, found comfort and focus using the colour-changing lighting and lavender scents. Meanwhile, LM, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, not only reduced medication needs during the period but also deepened her connection with her daughter through shared time in the room. These are not just clinical wins - they are deeply human victories.

Not Just for Residents – Families Feel It Too

What makes the sensory room project truly special is its impact on families and visitors. Younger visitors, including grandchildren, have responded enthusiastically to the calming, interactive environment — creating joyful, meaningful visits that break down barriers and reduce anxiety around care home settings. One child called it a “super cool room,” a statement that speaks to how thoughtful, inclusive environments can change perceptions across generations.

One family member shared:

“My mum can have fluctuations in her mood, and the sensory room enables her to have a calm, quiet environment to engage in. She enjoys watching the bubble tube, having her favourite music on, and being in the blue light – her favourite colour. It’s been such a positive addition.”

Changing the Care Conversation

What’s happening at St Modans isn’t just about one room. It’s about a shift in how we view care. Instead of immediately turning to medication when stress or distress arises, the sensory room offers a gentler, more person-centred alternative - one that respects individual preference, builds trust, and gives people control.

This is care that listens. This is care that adapts. This is care that works.

And perhaps most importantly, it reflects Meallmore’s mission: to be Scotland’s most trusted care provider - not by doing what’s always been done, but by reimagining what’s possible.

Of course, this is just the beginning. While the data paints an incredibly promising picture, the team at St Modans will continue to evaluate outcomes over time. Future goals include using the sensory room as a first-line intervention for stress and distress, and continuing to refine personalised sensory care plans to further enhance individual outcomes.

More than just reducing medication or increasing engagement, the room has also reduced pressure on colleagues, helping to create a calmer environment throughout the home - making St Modans not just a better place to live, but a better place to work, too.

The sensory room at St Modans is more than an innovative feature - it’s a testament to what’s possible when dedication, creativity, and person-centred care come together. It’s a benchmark for what high-quality, emotionally intelligent care should look like in 2025 and beyond.

And it’s a proud example of what sets Meallmore apart.