THE Ballamona Association for Mental Health recently donated £4,320 for new sensory Voyager equipment at Gansey EMI Older People's Day Centre at Southlands in Port St Mary.
Research has shown that the equipment can be beneficial for people suffering from dementia and related health issues.
The centre caters for the needs of older people who have mental health problems and is open from Monday to Friday for residents from the local community.
Social Care Minister Martyn Quayle MHK said: "My department is striving to meet the needs of the Island's older people by providing an increasing range of community-based services in addition to established residential services.
"We are very grateful to the Ballamona Association for Mental Health for their kind donation.
"The department is committed to ensuring that the needs of people with dementia are met using a range of therapy and support. This new equipment will play an important role in achieving this."
The Ballamona Association for Mental Health is a registered Manx charity and has been in existence since 1966 when it was founded as the Ballamona (Hospital) League of Friends.
Members raise funds for the provision of amenities and comforts outside of the statutory departmental provisions.
Originally the association provided only for patients residing in Ballamona Hospital, however nowadays people experiencing problems such as dementia and memory loss or any mental health issues living in the community and residential accommodation are also supported by the association.
Their trustees and members are all volunteers committed to supporting and assisting those in our community who may not be in a position to buy much needed items.
The sensory equipment comprises a bubble tube, fibre optic curtain, projector, MP3 player and a mirror.
Staff at the Gansey Day Centre use the equipment to create a calming relaxing atmosphere.
They give hand massage to service users who in turn can listen to gentle music in the sensory room while watching a water filled tube with beads that move and change colour.
Users can change the tube's colour via a large remote control and images such as tropical fish and clouds are projected on a wall creating soothing shapes.
Fibre optic lights, tactile panels with various textures along with mirror balls are also used to create the soothing ambiance.
The department said it is very grateful to the association for this and other equipment they have bought such as electrically operated beds and pressure mattresses.
"In this financial climate the funding of all this equipment is a very generous donation and truly appreciated," a spokesman said.
