‘Magic table’ a Bailiwick first

ALDERNEY'S Royal Connaught Care Home is the first in the Bailiwick to install a stimulatory 'magic table' to enhance the lives of dementia patients.

Residents and staff at Royal Connaught Care Home in Alderney try out the Tovertafel. (Picture by Emma Pinch, 21226474)

The Dutch invention, called a Tovertafel, which translates literally as magic table, features colourful moving images and games that those with the condition can interact with and use to socialise with other people.

The Lloyds Bank Foundation funded the £6,000 acquisition for Milly's Foundation, which raises money to support people with dementia and their carers.

Photo credit: www.tovertafel.co.uk 

John Ramsay, who cared for his surgeon father after he developed dementia at 52, said it was designed to stimulate reminiscence, the physical senses and feelings of relaxation - all of which people are receptive to even when the disease is at advanced stages.

'We found that people with dementia respond to moving light and we wanted to make those pools of light as beautiful and stimulating as possible. They also help interaction between the generations - young visitors can sit at the tables with the resident and enjoy the games with them.' 

Some of the games are cognitive word games, where the touch of a shape will elicit half of a familiar expression, while others feature moving fish, butterflies, leaves or bubbles, which respond to the swipe of a hand. There are also sound effects to go with the imagery.

Original article from Guernsey Press