Magic tables bring joy and laughter to care homes
MHA, the largest charity Care provider in the UK are investing in Mobii interactive, motion-activated sensory projection systems which support residents living with dementia – and the effect on residents, their families and staff has been amazing.
Staff using OMi Mobii Magic Tables at MHA care homes in Falmouth, Stoke on Trent, Chippenham and London have been able work with residents like never before.
Mobii’s use of therapeutic scenes and sounds which derive from nature have been known to instantly promote feelings of calm for residents living with dementia.
L/r: Falmouth mayor Geoff Evans, resident Mavis Brand and David Sanders the Activities Co-ordinator at MHA Langholme in Falmouth, pictured with the “Mobii Magic Table.” Picture by Colin Higgs
With the goal of stimulating, engaging and relaxing the mind, the sensory projection technology, which is manufactured by OMi in the UK and nicknamed ‘Mobii magic tables’, comes equipped with quizzes, music and themes that have been designed to prompt conversations, spark nostalgia and maintain memory. Its use of therapeutic scenes and sounds which derive from nature have been known to instantly promote feelings of calm for residents living with dementia.
Through this motion-activated technology, residents can reach out to crack an egg and make a cake, grow a flower simply by touching it, and even dip their toes in the water as the tide rolls in – all without leaving the sense of security that their own room provides. This is made possible by the Mobii’s portable and height-adjustable properties which are able to project coloured streams of light onto any table, bed or floor.
MHA’s Operation Manager for Dementia David Moore said: “The tables provide endless possibilities for residents, their families and staff to enjoy activities together. The technology is portable, meaning everyone within the home can enjoy it.”
Read the full article on the MHA website here: Magic tables’ bring joy and laughter to care homes
On Friday 2nd October we were humbled to be part of the NAPA Awards 2020. An online event hosted by Hilary Woodhead of NAPA to celebrate the amazing individuals who bring so much joy through meaningful activities to people living in care.
It was a fabulously uplifting afternoon of music, dance & moving speeches. We were delighted to sponsor the Conversation & Connection Award won by Briony Spandler of The Dales, Abbeyfield, presented by our Care Consultant, Anna Park who also judged the Unsung Hero Award won by Cathy Ranson of Runwood Homes. It’s never been more important for us to honour those working in care homes everywhere. 
She goes on to explain that many of the people they support are non-verbal, but it is clear from their ‘giggles, smiles and general excitement’ how much they are ‘enjoying interacting with the games, music and activities.’
One of the unexpected benefits, she tells us, has been the extra exercise it has encouraged, with one gentleman losing a significant amount of excess weight due to his regular use of the system. Rowan said the feedback they’ve received from staff running the sessions has been hugely positive with many commenting on ‘how easy it is to use and how much they’ve enjoyed seeing the fun it brings given the restricted times everyone is living in’.
MacIntyre, Shropshire have written to tell us that the Mobii portable projector system has been a ‘huge success and is enjoyed by everyone’. They currently share one of our Mobii mobile systems across many services but are hopeful that they will be able to have more systems to support the people they work with soon.
