5Senses screening tool sample content and proposed scoring
| Domains | Section 1: walkthrough of the environment—items | Section 2: assessment of organisational policies, procedures and protocols—items | Scoring for sections 1 and 2 | Section 3: assessment of resident perspectives—items | Section 4: assessment of staff perspectives—items | Scaling for section 3 and 4 |
| Hearing | Quiet areas separated from noise | Evidence of staff training about hearing impairments | (0) No (1) Yes | Appropriate noise level during activities | Appropriate noise level during activities | Frequency scale: (1) Never (0) (2) Rarely (1–2 times) (3) Occasionally (3–4 times) (4) Frequently (5–6 times) (5) Almost always (7 times or more) |
| Housekeeping schedule | Policies related to hearing (sound, noise, hearing impairment, communication with impaired residents) | (0) No (1) Yes | Appropriate noise level throughout the day | Appropriate noise level throughout the day | Frequency scale: (1) Never (0) (2) Rarely (1–2 times) (3) Occasionally (3–4 times) (4) Frequently (5–6 times) (5) Almost always (7 times or more) | |
| Vision | Reflective materials easy to clean (y/n) | Staff training about visual impairments (y/n) | (0) No (1) Yes | Lighting levels appropriate | Lighting levels appropriate | Likert agreement: (1) Strongly disagree (2) Disagree (3) Neither agree or disagree (4) Agree (5) Strongly agree |
| Minimum glare flooring (y/n) | Policies related to vision (lighting, visual impairments, communication with visual impaired residents) (y/n) | (0) No (1) Yes | Tidiness | Tidiness | Frequency scale: (1) Never (0) (2) Rarely (1–2 times) (3) Occasionally (3–4 times) (4) Frequently (5–6 times) (5) Almost always (7 times or more) | |
| Smell | Containment of odours (y/n) | Staff training regarding odour control (y/n) | (0) No (1) Yes | Positive smells in the environment | Positive smells in the environment | Likert agreement: (1) Strongly disagree (2) Disagree (3) Neither agree or disagree (4) Agree (5) Strongly agree |
| Management of unpleasant odours (y/n) | Policies related to management of odours (cleaning products, housekeeping, soiled linens and other item, garbage disposal) (y/n) | (0) No (1) Yes | Handling of negative odours | Handling of negative odours | Likert agreement: (1) Strongly disagree (2) Disagree (3) Neither agree or disagree (4) Agree (5) Strongly agree | |
| Touch | Sensory rooms available (y/n) | Staff training regarding use of touch (y/n) | (0) No (1) Yes | Appropriate use of touch therapeutically (5-point scale) | Appropriate use of touch therapeutically (5-point scale) | Likert agreement: (1) Strongly disagree (2) Disagree (3) Neither agree or disagree (4) Agree (5) Strongly agree |
| Tactile experiences available (y/n) | Policies related to touch (use of sensory rooms) (y/n) | (0) No (1) Yes | Feelings about touch use (5-point scale) | Feelings about touch use (5-point scale) | Likert agreement: (1) Strongly disagree (2) Disagree (3) Neither agree or disagree (4) Agree (5) Strongly agree | |
| Taste | Variety of herbs and spices used to stimulate appetite (y/n) | Staff training to improve taste experience (y/n) | (0) No (1) Yes | Food tastes great | Resident enjoyment of food | Likert agreement: (1) Strongly disagree (2) Disagree (3) Neither agree or disagree (4) Agree (5) Strongly agree |
| Kitchen or serving area kept open to allow residents to smell food and help stimulate appetite (y/n) | Policies related to taste (residents' food preferences, needs, cultural choices, oral health) (y/n) | (0) No (1) Yes | Dental/oral care needs are met | Dental/oral care needs are met | Frequency scale: (1) Never (0) (2) Rarely (1–2 times) (3) Occasionally (3–4 times) (4) Frequently (5–6 times) (5) Almost always (7 times or more) |