We are committed to elevating dementia care and ensuring that our residents have the highest quality of care possible. Our team is always looking for ways to foster socialisation and fun, which is why we have added the Tovertafel Magic Table to our home for the residents to use. We are proud to be the first care home in Bristol to embrace the Tovertafel Magic Table and the joy and engagement it brings to our residents.
What is the Tovertafel Magic Table?
Initially created by a Dutch scholar (Hester Le Riche) and developed by care workers, the Tovertafel Table is an overhead projector that can be mounted above any flat surface to turn that surface into a space for games and collaboration. The games are fully interactive and responsive to the residents due to the Tovertafels speakers and infrared technology, making it super fun and engaging!
How Does the Tovertafel Magic Table Help Those with Dementia?
As a person’s dementia progresses this can often be accompanied by increased apathy and a reduced interest in meeting social needs. The Tovertafel table can help with this, many of our residents love to get involved with the fun, colourful and immersive games. Even those who aren’t fully ready to participate will often enjoy watching. There are many aspects of life that the Tovertafel table can enrich for our residents.
Social Interaction
The symptoms of dementia can make social interaction more difficult. Difficulties with short term memory and cognition can be isolating, making social interaction stressful and sometimes frustrating. A tool like the Tovertafel Table can make it effortless for our residents. It provides something for our residents to talk about and work together in a scenario that feels socially safe.
Reduction in Apathy
For many suffering from Dementia, it can be difficult to not become shut off from the world around them. This can make it difficult to engage in things and cause a reduction in quality of life. The Magic Table has been able to bring even our quietest of residents out of their shells.
Staying Active
The interactive aspect of the table means that moving around is required to participate in the games. This keeps our residents active in body as well as mind. It is also hugely beneficial for working on maintaining motor skills.
Sensory Benefits
The bright colours and satisfying sounds are a great way to stimulate the senses, which has its own wealth of benefits for those with dementia, such as a general improvement in mood.
Fun in similar surroundings
The Magic Table is unobtrusive, it is just a small box mounted on the ceiling with a projection that is shown on a table that is familiar to our residents. This means that the games are accessible for those who find changes in their surroundings upsetting.
Self-Esteem Benefits
The Tovertafel Magic Table is a way for our residents to enjoy daily wins. Dementia can make a lot of life’s tasks more difficult and a person’s self-esteem can suffer from not being able to do something that they once could. The great thing about the Magic Table is that there is no right or wrong way to do it. Many of the movements are intuitive, and suddenly, our residents feel more in control of both their body and mind.
What Kind of Games Can be Played on the Magic Table?
Many of the games we have on the Magic Table are bright and fun and can be played with intuitive movements, so there is no learning curve to get involved. Our residents particularly enjoy the leaves game, where they can pick up and throw leaves while trying to find a selection of critters.
We have found that the Tovertafel Magic Table has been extremely beneficial to the well-being of our residents. If you are looking for a residential care home for a loved one that guarantees to always put their needs and mental health first then get in touch with our friendly team today!