WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — Hospitals can be very unsettling places, especially for those with sensory issues, but Sentara is trying to change that. Its Williamsburg campus has safe spaces for patients with autism, dementia and anxiety.

Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center was recently honored in February for its welcoming and inclusive environment. It’s the first hospital in Virginia to be certified as sensory inclusive by KultureCity — a leading non-profit in sensory accessibility.

Sentara said the goal is to make everyone feel at ease when they have to visit.

“It’s just a way we could reach out and make sure people felt safe when they needed to seek health care,” said Chief Nursing Officer Donna Wilmoth.

Wilmoth said that between the overwhelming check in process to the sometimes-daunting experience in a procedure room, it can be an overwhelming process for patients with sensory issues.

She said she noticed one day a young boy wasn’t letting nurses take his vitals, so they brought this device in to make him feel more comfortable.

“Through conversations with the nurses, I knew that he wasn’t allowing the staff to do vital signs or take blood,” Wilmoth said, “and he was very resistant to touch, so we went and got the device and brought it into the room and it changed his care completely.”

The device looks like a big fish tank and it has bright lights that reflect on the ceiling.

“He was very focused on the calming of the fish,” Wilmoth said, “and it allowed the nurses to take blood and do his vital signs so he was very receptive of the medication and we were able to get him home sooner.”

Wilmoth started doing research on other ways to help people with sensory issues more comfortable, and got in touch with non-profit, Kulture City. They wanted to help patients who may have autism, suffer from PTSD, or seniors who may have dementia feel at ease in the hospital.

Surgical Services Manager Amy Lassiter said patients can be especially nervous ahead of surgery, which is where one of their sensory rooms is conveniently placed.

“Once they come in here they can decompress, kind of relax a little bit, and then they are ready to do vital signs, we can administer medication, we can do the things we need to do to get them ready,” Lassiter said.

They also started making sensory bags available for patients to check out with noise-canceling headphones inside.

“There’s a few fidget toys as a distraction,” Lassiter said. “We also keep these cards in here if they’re non-verbal — they can point to their needs.”

It all helps patients feel more at ease when receiving care.

“A lot times they don’t want to be touched,” Lassiter said. “They want to be left alone, and we are providing tools to allow us to help them.”

At least half of the hospital’s 400-plus staff members must complete training to recognize when a patient may be experiencing sensory overload.

The rooms are only available at Sentara’s Williamsburg location for now, but they are hoping to expand to other locations soon.