Table magic is used to keep residents happy

The sight could not be more different to what you would typically see in the lounge of a nursing home after lunch when residents take an afternoon nap in their chair. Instead, residents at The Depperhaugh in Hoxne, near Diss, can be seen sitting around a hi-tech table eagerly playing games that have been specially developed to entertain people living with dementia. Beams of coloured light directed on to the table create bright images which move and change when people touch them. By moving their hands over the table, the residents can throw a beach ball to each other, sweep away autumn leaves, catch fish, burst bubbles or touch caterpillars and watch them change into fluttering butterflies.  

The Kingsley Healthcare-run home in Chickering Road is the first in East Anglia to have bought the £5,000 so-called “Magic Table”. It has been developed by Dutch PhD student Hester Le Riche to improve the quality of life for people living with even advanced dementia. Deputy home manager Maria Volentiru said: “Residents interact with each other so much more. “It helps them move about and exercise in their chair. “The staff love it too and joining in the games makes their relationship with residents even stronger.” The £5,000 cost of the Magic Table has been funded from part of a bequest left to the home by former resident Joan Fitzpatrick.

Find more about Depperhaugh nursing home in Diss

Source: EDP