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Park Place introduces interactive ‘Magic Table’ for residents
Interactive table offers fun and engagement for older adults
AnnaMarie Kruse
Aug. 20, 2025 12:56 pm
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — Residents at Park Place Long Term Care are experiencing a new way to connect, move, and play thanks to the installation of a Tovertafel, or “Magic Table,” an interactive light projection game designed for older adults and individuals living with dementia.
“At Park Place, we’re always looking for innovative ways to enrich the lives of our residents,” Park Place Administrator Tara Pope said. “One of the most exciting additions to our community has been the Tovertafel, an interactive light projection game designed especially for older adults and individuals living with dementia. It brings residents together around a table, where they can play engaging games that stimulate movement, spark memories, and encourage social connection. We’ve seen firsthand how the Tovertafel creates moments of joy — residents smile, laugh, and interact with each other in ways that are truly heartwarming.”
The system was developed in the Netherlands by researcher Hester Le Riche during her Ph.D. work at Delft University of Technology. Using a ceiling-mounted projector, it casts colorful, motion-sensitive games onto a table. Residents can pop digital bubbles, assemble virtual puzzles, or play a game similar to soccer by swiping a projected ball.
Pope said the technology has quickly become a hit.
“We’ve had it for a little over a week now, and already our residents are enjoying it,” she said. “It’s not like you have to have an organized activity. Anybody can just come and sit down and with the assistance of staff, they can turn it on, get a game going for them, and they’re able to interact with it.”
She added that the Tovertafel has been especially meaningful for residents who may not be able to participate in traditional group activities.
“Some of our residents, who are more cognitively challenged, who really are not able to participate in an organized activity because they just don’t have that attention span to sit for a long period of time — they’re able to interact and have a good time with it,” she said.
Without need for controllers or complicated tools, this device gives residents, like those at Park Place, a way to enjoy technology with skills they already possess.
“You know, things never stay the same, and technology and the advancements of technology is just a part of our lives,” Pope said. “Now, for older people, it can be a struggle with adapting to that technology, but I feel like this is so user friendly. With the assistance of our staff, of getting it set up, it … brings some activity [to] people that otherwise wouldn’t get that same type of activity.”
This is especially true thanks to the simple accessibility of being able to pull up a wheelchair. The Magic Table also tailors games to different levels ability offering simple but stimulating activities for all residents.
The project was made possible through support from the Henry County Foundation and Park Place is “very appreciative” of their contribution.
According to Pope, Park Place staff were inspired to pursue the Tovertafel after seeing one in use at the Klein Center in West Burlington, where it had been introduced in a dementia care unit.
According to Always Home Connected, a company that specializes in dementia-friendly products, the Tovertafel helps maintain cognitive functions by engaging memory and recognition, while also encouraging physical movement and social interaction. Additionally, the Magic Table acts as a positive tool for caregivers to engage with residents.
“I was not sure how it would go over, but it has really gone over great with our residents and even the staff think it’s pretty cool,” she said.
Eugeria, the Canadian company that first introduced the system to North America, notes that the games often spark laughter and moments of joy, improving emotional well-being and helping to reduce feelings of isolation. The tailoring to a variety of ability levels also allows seniors with deteriorating cognitive skills to enjoy wins while greatly diminishing potential for frustration.
The Tovertafel is now used in more than 10,000 dementia care communities worldwide, according to the company behind the system. Advocates say its success lies in blending therapy with play, offering both stimulation and comfort.
“It’s not just an activity,” Pope said. “It’s a tool that supports both emotional well-being and cognitive engagement, and we’re so proud to offer it here at Park Place.”
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com