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The Tovertafel Original is a fun care innovation that connects older people in the late stage of their dementia journey with each other and with their surroundings, all the while stimulating movement. The beautiful games were developed specifically for the target group and can be played both independently and under supervision.

What is the Tovertafel Original?


Are you looking for a fun way to stimulate people with dementia to move more and interact socially? The Tovertafel Original was developed for and with people in the moderate to severe stages of dementia. The interactive games break through apathy by stimulating both physical and cognitive activity and encouraging social interaction. Moreover, the Tovertafel creates treasured moments with family members and carers. These games are all about enjoyment and wonder.
 
The Tovertafel is a little box that can be mounted on the ceiling, for instance, above the dining room table of a care institute. Inside the box is a high-quality projector, infrared sensors, speaker, and processor that work together to project the games onto the table. Because the colourful objects respond to hand and arm movements, residents get to play with the light itself.

 Learn more about the Tovertafel’s specifications

How was the Tovertafel developed?

Research is central to what we do. Not only did the Tovertafel emerge from the PhD research of Hester Le Riche, all our products are the result of a thorough design process. At Active Cues, there are always a couple of students who are doing research for their studies, which means that the Tovertafel is always improving.

 

We develop the Tovertafel games through the co-design method, working together with the target group and their environment. We talk with care workers and family members and each new game is tested with the residents. Because we actively involve them in the design process, we can tailor our products to their needs and interest, and thereby ensure that games will stimulate them as best as possible.
See the research that went into developing the Tovertafel Original

  • Sports Sets

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    Cognitive Social Physical

    Sports Sets

    Tovertafel Original

    Freely associate and create a set of two objects that belong together. That’s how you complete the sports sets!

    In the middle of the table an object appears that has to do with sports. The players choose a logical combination from several pictures. What goes with a basketball…? A net! This way, people in the early to middle stages of dementia are cognitively challenged and there’s a social stimulus to start a conversation.

     

    Tip: Incorporate breaks to get to know each other better. Who used to play sports?

  • Evening Lights

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    Cognitive Social Physical

    Evening Lights

    Tovertafel Original

    Relax in the here and now with dancing lights, beautiful colours and soothing sounds.

    Dancing lights move across the table. Are they fireflies or falling stars? This game provides people in the late stages of dementia with the opportunity to relax. Each movement leads to even more colour, sparkles and soothing music. All the players have to do is enjoy the moment. This multi-sensory experience can be compared to snoezelen.

     

    Tip: Try using a soft tablecloth to stimulate tactile sensation.

  • UK Scenery Puzzle

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    Cognitive Social Physical

    UK Scenery Puzzle

    Tovertafel Original

    Put all the puzzle pieces together and a familiar place is revealed! 

    Colourful puzzle pieces float across the table. Once touched, they move into the right place. This social and familiar activity reveals a different iconic place in England with each puzzle. From Stonehenge to the Houses of Parliament! Travel across England from your table and share memories.

     

    Tip: Buckingham Palace or a palace? Both answers are conversation starters!

  • Cognitive Social Physical

    Rummy

    Tovertafel Original

    Find the missing tile to complete this world famous numbers game

    Rummy brings people together to complete simple number sets. By working as a group, or by splitting into teams and adding some gentle competition, players complete the game by finding the missing number in the series. Rummy, based on the much loved and popular card game, is a favourite across generations and provides a great opportunity for families to play together. Rummy has been developed through our co-design process for those in the early-to-mid stages of dementia.

Benefits of the Tovertafel Original

  • Effective in breaking through apathy
    Evaluation studies show improvements in physical activity¹, social interaction¹ and quality of life² in people with moderate to severe dementia. Care professionals we’ve spoken to confirm these results.

  • Based on scientific research
    The Tovertafel is the result of PhD research¹ at the TU Delft. Together with universities across the world, we keep studying and developing the effects of the Tovertafel Original.

  • Developed through co-design
    The enthusiastic Active Cues’ team works closely with care workers, residents, and their family. New insights from practice are used to improve the games, ensuring that they perfectly suit the target group.

  • Projects intuitive games that increase self-esteem
    The pretty, moving light projections stimulate intuitive movements. The sense of wonder is complete when players learn that the games respond to even the smallest movements. ‘Look at what I can do!’

  • Leaves the familiar environment intact
    The portable device hangs, out of sight, on the ceiling and projects onto the familiar table. With a press of the button, you can turn the table into a playing field without having to change the safe, familiar surroundings of the residents.

  • Pioneer in the market
    Active Cues is market leader in interactive games for people with dementia and the Tovertafel has become a popular activity in care centres in the Netherlands and abroad. People can play with the Tovertafel at over 1800 locations!

Purchasing a Tovertafel

We place a high value on quality and service, and with our extensive service we ensure that the installation and use of Tovertafel is as simple as possible. For more information about the costs and the different packages, please contact us.

Request more information Order the Tovertafel Original

Why Active Cues?

Training & support

Discover all the possibilities of the Tovertafel. After the Tovertafel is installed, we offer staff and family members extensive support on the daily use of the Tovertafel. We even provide you with a special Tovertafel buddy.

More about our training and support

Co-design

Because we use the co-design method and actively involve our target groups in the design process, we can tailor our products to their needs and interest. That way, we ensure that games will stimulate them as best as possible

Read more about co-design

Scientific research

The Tovertafel is based on scientific research. In her PhD research, Hester Le Riche studied how the physical and social environment affect activity among older people with dementia. She also did a literature study into their play experiences.

See our research

Questions

Do you have questions about the Tovertafel, or do you want to know more about purchasing the Tovertafel or one of its games? Then perhaps you can find the answer in the FAQs. If you would prefer to speak to someone in person, please get in touch.

Get in touch FAQs