From left committee representatives, Megan Jacobs, Erica Gilner and Chris Harkness officially open the new sensory room at the Iron County Medical Care Facility in Crystal Falls.

CRYSTAL FALLS — The Iron County Medical Care Facility committee worked tirelessly to take “Sensory Trails” from an idea last December to a reality.

The committee snipped the ribbon to officially open the Snoezelen multi-sensory environment. Snoezelen or controlled multisensory environment is a therapy for people with dementia or brain injury.

These rooms are specially designed to deliver stimuli to various senses, using lighting effects, color, sounds, music, and scents. At the grand opening, residents, families, friends and staff were invited to tour the room.

Everyone was impressed by the detail and thought that went into each area of the room, and captivated by the sights, sounds, and textures.

Residents reached out to touch the lit fiberoptic strands and gazed at the tall bubble tower. Families encouraged them to experience the stimuli asking what it remind them of or how it felt.

Committee representatives, Erica Gilner, LPN and certified dementia care manager, Stacy Donati, director of diversional therapy, Megan Jacobs, occupational therapist and Chris Harkness, speech language pathologist, were elated to officially open the room and for residents to start using it.

The room was chosen to be in the Memory Care Neighborhood, Willow East, as organizers hope they will be the first residents to truly benefit from the multi-sensory room.