Lighting Up Minds, Energizing Seniors

Fixed on a ceiling in a dimly-lit space at Langley Memorial Hospital’s Maple Hill long-term care residence, the Tovertafel projects colourful moving games down to a surface: virtual fish swim closer when residents touch the table, fall leaves drift and respond to movement. In the most popular game, residents “polish” images of silverware until they gleam and disappear.

Behind this innovation lies a story of community generosity that began with Saturday afternoon meat draws at the Langley Lions Club.

Last year, when club members first heard of the funding opportunity, Langley Lions Club treasurer Mel Stokes had no idea what a Tovertafel was, and could have hardly grasped the concept.

But the idea of introducing cognitive activities for residents in Langley Memorial Hospital’s (LMH) long-term care impressed the Lions so much, they raised $20,000 for the device through their regular weekly meat draws and the income they earn from renting out West Langley Hall.

A New Energy
When members of the Langley Lions witnessed the residents in action at the LMH campus, they were moved by the elders’ reactions, says Mel Stokes. “The smiles on their faces were unreal,” he says.

One senior resident at LMH’s Maple Hill long-term residence spends her days confined to a wheelchair and rarely moves her arms. But when virtual fish appear on the table, she reaches out eagerly - a moment of motivation and exercise she wouldn’t otherwise have, says Marla Sewell, Recreation Supervisor at LMH’s Long-Term Care.

“We’ve always been looking for different tools to engage the residents and improve their quality of life,” she says.

The technology offers more than 200 different activities, from watching moving patterns to playing memory games and pool. Each game targets different abilities, so residents with varying stags of dementia and physical dexterity can all participate.

The table helps during family visits too, giving relatives and residents something to do together when conversation becomes difficult, particularly with residents living with dementia.

Calming Troubled Minds
Currently, the campus’ four long-term care units share one Tovertafel, and move it between residences every three months.

The device proves especially helpful for residents who are feeling distressed or irritable, a common trait in those living with cognitive decline. Marla Sewell says staff members are often concerned with one resident, who typically becomes fixated on going to the bathroom, moving from person to person asking for help until she’s visibly upset.

“But for whatever reason, we can put her in front of the Tovertafel with a group of other residents, and we can engage her,” Marla says. “It may not engage her for an hour, but we can engage her for 15 or 20 minutes and even that is helpful for her and for everyone around her.”

Mel Stokes says he was impressed with what he noticed as a spark of energy among the residents at the Tovertafel table.

“There was one patient that was almost totally withdrawn. Since they brought this in, it got this person interacting. If that’s not a win-win, I don’t know what is.”