Study (2022): Influence of therapy blankets on the health condition of nursing home residents

The most common treatment for residents' health problems is pharmacological. How an intervention with a non-pharmacological method, such as a weighted blanket, affects residents' health has been little researched so far. The aim of this study was to explore the nursing staff's experiences of how an intervention with weighted blankets influences the residents' perception of health.

The study conducted interviews with 20 nursing staff working in nursing homes. The nursing staff reported that the weighted blanket positively influenced the residents' health in the areas of sleep, physical activity, and psychological behavior. With the blanket, they fell asleep faster, their sleep was uninterrupted, and they felt more rested in the morning. The nursing staff observed an increased activity level as the residents became more energetic. The nursing staff also noted that negative psychological behaviors such as anxiety and worries decreased. This study shows that the weighted blanket changed the residents' health status in several crucial areas. Deep pressure treatment using a weighted blanket represents an alternative or complement to medication treatment that can promote health for nursing home residents.

About the study

Source: 

Hjort Telhede, E., Arvidsson, S., & Karlsson, S. (2022). Nursing staff's experiences of how weighted blankets influence resident's in nursing homes expressions of health. International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 17(1), 2009203. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2021.2009203