Husband buys 'magic table' dementia gift for wife

The husband of a woman living in a care home with dementia has raised more than £5,000 to buy a ‘magic table’ to give his wife a chance to have fun with other residents.

Pete James, whose wife Nicole lives at The Hawthorns nursing home in Evesham, spread the word to family and friends via social media that he was keen to help her and other residents with dementia to relax and reminisce. He soon received a huge response to his JustGiving page requesting funds to buy Active Cues' Tovertafel table.

Developed in Holland, the table uses light animations to create games that encourage people in the mid-to-late stages of dementia to connect with others and their surroundings, while stimulating their mind and movements.

‘People’s love of Nicole’ led to generous donations

As well as funds raised from a JustGiving page, The Shaw Foundation provided a grant to make up the rest of the money needed to purchase the table. Pete James has been overwhelmed by the response to his fundraising appeal on social media.

Mr James said: “People have been incredibly supportive and generous, and for that, I am truly grateful.

"We didn’t have to put on special events to raise the money, it was purely through people’s love of Nicole that we managed to reach our target as quickly as we did”.

The Tovertafel projects moving light images. A box suspended from the ceiling, containing a projector, infrared sensors and a speaker, detects hand and arm movement, controls the games and projects light animations onto any table surface.

The audio-visual stimulation gives residents, who may previously have rarely demonstrated any capability for interaction, to suddenly follow the projected images with their hands and eyes, attempting to grasp the shapes. The 'magic table' has meant families have found themselves reconnecting in a fun way with their loved ones again.

The games, which can be played independently or as a group, invite participants to pop bubbles, sweep leaves or interact playfully with fish – you can even grow flowers. Another game generates a series of well-known sayings and phrases, which is often the start of discussions and can bring back memories.

Maggie Parker, who works for the Alzheimer’s Society and has known Peter and his family for some time, said: “It is just wonderful to see the residents react and interact with each other, especially those who are usually more withdrawn and less inclined to get involved. It is also great for when family members are visiting, and conversation can be limited”.

The ‘magic table’ has been well received by residents, staff and family members alike at the specialist dementia care home according to Mary Tasker, home manager at The Hawthorns, which is run by Shaw healthcare.

Ms Taskar said: ”The impact that this equipment has had in a short space of time has been incredible. Residents who didn’t tend to join in conversations or were prone to becoming agitated have become engaged, and many have shown absolute delight when playing these games.

“The sound of the laughter has left myself and other staff members in tears of joy. I can’t thank Pete and his family enough for what they have done for everyone here.

“It isn’t just the residents who have benefited from the magic table". A relative of one resident regularly asks staff "if she can spend 10 minutes" using the table before she goes home, as it relaxes her too.

click here for more details or to contact The Hawthorns Nursing Home