Lights, announcements, crowds: shopping is stressful, especially for people with mental disorders and chronic illnesses. In many supermarkets, shopping is accompanied by bright lights, music and advertising announcements. For people with sensitive perception, this can mean sensory overload and psychological overload. Individual supermarkets are now offering a ‘quiet hour’ in which people who are sensitive to stimuli can shop in a quiet atmosphere without music and with dimmed lights, according to the Federal Center for Nutrition (BZfE).
The extra shopping time is aimed at people with autism, high sensitivity, migraines, epilepsy, depression, multiple sclerosis or Long Covid, who often react more strongly to environmental stimuli. During the ‘Silent Hour’, various measures are taken in the store on at least one day of the week to make shopping more pleasant for you: the lights are dimmed, music and announcements are switched off. During this time, no shelves will be restocked and the noise at the checkout will be reduced.
Break down barriers
The aim of the campaign is to break down sensory barriers, according to the association ‘together together’, which is carrying out the project in collaboration with various partners. According to the BZfE, it is not yet possible to say how great the demand for the ‘Silent Hour’ is and whether it can be implemented nationwide.
The number of participating shops in Germany is still very manageable; there is not yet a nationwide offer. Interested consumers can find further information and a list of participating stores on the website of the same name. (dpa)