Weighted Blankets for Dementia

Weighted blankets are sheets of fabric that are either filled with beads or pellets or have several layers of fabric to make them heavier than a standard blanket.

They work due to the proprioceptive sense, also known as kinaesthesia or the 'sixth sense'; this sense gives us the comprehension of where our bodies are in space. Deep pressure therapy – provided by weighted blankets – ignites our proprioception as the weight presses on us, allowing us to feel grounded. 

Why Use Weighted Blankets for Dementia Patients?

Weighted blankets for dementia patients can help them feel more secure and grounded and stimulate the release of serotonin. 

In a study done in 2006, researchers found that among those monitored while using a weighted blanket, 63% reported lower anxiety, and 78% preferred the blanket as their primary calming tool. Dementia, and the illnesses which may cause it, can be very distressing to patients, so having effective calming tools is essential.

See our blog post for more suggested tools to support dementia patients.

Who Can Use Them?

Although the effects of weighted blankets for dementia patients are very positive, experts continue to recommend asking for a doctor's approval before using them with certain individuals.

Those who struggle to regulate temperature or have difficulties with their respiratory or circulatory systems should avoid weighted blankets unless they have a doctor's approval. Anyone recovering from surgery should do the same.

See our available weighted blankets for dementia patients below, or check out our shop for more sensory products for dementia patients. For more dementia guidance, please have a look at our blog.