{"id":7302,"date":"2022-09-27T11:14:39","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T11:14:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/?p=7302"},"modified":"2022-09-29T07:36:22","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T07:36:22","slug":"why-sensory-tech-can-bring-light-into-the-lives-of-people-with-dementia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/senior-health\/why-sensory-tech-can-bring-light-into-the-lives-of-people-with-dementia\/","title":{"rendered":"Why sensory tech can bring light into the lives of people with dementia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"background-color:#f2f2f2;color:#32373c\" class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-profile-box round ab-has-avatar ab-font-size-14 ab-block-profile ab-profile-columns\"><div class=\"ab-profile-column ab-profile-avatar-wrap\"><div class=\"ab-profile-image-wrap\"><figure class=\"ab-profile-image-square\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" class=\"ab-profile-avatar wp-image-7305\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210639\/p.8-bottom-Alena-headshot-1.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210639\/p.8-bottom-Alena-headshot-1.png 400w, https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210639\/p.8-bottom-Alena-headshot-1-125x125.png 125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ab-profile-column ab-profile-content-wrap\"><h2 class=\"ab-profile-name\" style=\"color:#32373c\">Alena Ulicka<\/h2><p class=\"ab-profile-title\" style=\"color:#32373c\">Senior Activity Leader, CareChoice Montenotte nursing home<\/p><div class=\"ab-profile-text\"><\/div><ul class=\"ab-social-links\"><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color:#f2f2f2;color:#32373c\" class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-profile-box right round ab-has-avatar ab-font-size-14 ab-block-profile ab-profile-columns\"><div class=\"ab-profile-column ab-profile-avatar-wrap\"><div class=\"ab-profile-image-wrap\"><figure class=\"ab-profile-image-square\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"517\" height=\"516\" class=\"ab-profile-avatar wp-image-7304\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210640\/p.8-Bottom-Marjie-Seinen-Headshot.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210640\/p.8-Bottom-Marjie-Seinen-Headshot.png 517w, https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210640\/p.8-Bottom-Marjie-Seinen-Headshot-125x125.png 125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 517px) 100vw, 517px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ab-profile-column ab-profile-content-wrap\"><h2 class=\"ab-profile-name\" style=\"color:#32373c\">Marjie Seinen<\/h2><p class=\"ab-profile-title\" style=\"color:#32373c\">User-centred Designer, Tover<\/p><div class=\"ab-profile-text\"><\/div><ul class=\"ab-social-links\"><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>People living with dementia can be mentally stimulated by purposeful play activities, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homecaremedicalsupplies.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sensory technology <\/a>that projects interactive games onto a tabletop or floor.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Adults living with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homecaremedicalsupplies.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dementia or intellectual disabilities<\/a> can benefit hugely from purposeful play, says Alena Ulicka, Senior Activity Leader at CareChoice Montenotte nursing home in Cork. As its name suggests, purposeful play is done for a reason: to stimulate minds and enrich lives.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"healt-4101516181\"><div class=\"healt-adlabel\">Advertisements<\/div><div id=\"healt-2894997237\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homecaremedicalsupplies.ie\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"ads2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210632\/ads2.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210632\/ads2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210632\/ads2-768x256.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" width=\"750\" height=\"250\"  style=\"display: inline-block;\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-stimulating-patients-with-purposeful-play\"><strong>Stimulating patients with purposeful play<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen people hear the word &#8216;play,&#8217; they tend to think of children in a playground,\u201d says Ulicka. \u201cBut purposeful play is different. It&#8217;s something that senior residents can join in with and be cognitively stimulated by, which is especially important for those living with advanced dementia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ulicka and her team provide a range of supervised activities including painting, baking and gardening. Crucially, all are interactive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">People can make connections with each other through this type of play.<\/p><cite><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Alena Ulicka<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way of providing mental stimulation for those living with dementia is with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homecaremedicalsupplies.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sensory technology called a Tovertafel<\/a> \u2014 Dutch for \u2018magic table.&#8217; This projects interactive games onto a tabletop or floor which can provoke powerfully positive reactions in people. \u201cWe call these reactions sparkle moments,\u201d explains Ulicka. \u201cA resident sitting at the table may not do anything at first. But then they see the images and realise that they can touch them and play with them. There&#8217;s a sparkle in their eyes when they understand that this is something exciting and new.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Developed in the Netherlands, Tovertafel\u2019s games are co-designed with people living with dementia, carers and relatives. Tover\u2019s user-centred designer, Marije Seinen, explains how it works: &#8220;All our game ideas are based on suggestions from the field. We try our designs together on-site, observe the gameplay very closely, record it on video and gather valuable information for developing the prototypes, which we then test again with everyone.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"healt-1028350116\"><div class=\"healt-adlabel\">Advertisements<\/div><div id=\"healt-1223400532\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homecaremedicalsupplies.ie\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"ads2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210632\/ads2.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210632\/ads2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210632\/ads2-768x256.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" width=\"750\" height=\"250\"  style=\"display: inline-block;\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Making connections helps to spark reminiscence<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Tovertafel can also help people reminisce. One of its games involves &#8216;decorating&#8217; a Christmas tree, which can lead to memories of past Christmases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSome residents with dementia don&#8217;t always recognise members of their own family, so the Tovertafel will be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homecaremedicalsupplies.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fun and stimulating<\/a> way to bring them together,\u201d she says. \u201cPeople can make connections with each other through this type of play. And if we&#8217;re not successful at first, we keep trying until we are. Because that&#8217;s the challenge with dementia. The person is there. We just need to &#8216;find&#8217; them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><div style=\"text-align:center\" class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-button ab-block-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homecaremedicalsupplies.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"ab-button ab-button-shape-rounded ab-button-size-medium fb-pixel\" style=\"color:#ffffff;background-color:#23305d\">Click here to learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>People living with dementia can be mentally stimulated by purposeful play activities, including sensory technology that projects interactive games onto a tabletop or floor. Adults living with dementia or intellectual disabilities can benefit hugely from purposeful play, says Alena Ulicka, Senior Activity Leader at CareChoice Montenotte nursing home in Cork. As its name suggests, purposeful &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/senior-health\/why-sensory-tech-can-bring-light-into-the-lives-of-people-with-dementia\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":7349,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5746],"tags":[5747],"class_list":["post-7302","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-senior-health","tag-senior-health-q3-2022"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210633\/Option1-600x400.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2022\/09\/07210633\/Option1-600x600.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"henryphillips","author_link":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/author\/henryphillips\/"},"vicky_category_order":[{"category_id":5746,"order":"6"}],"vicky_index_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7302"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7302\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7352,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7302\/revisions\/7352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}