We're excited to announce the addition of a Tovertafel Pixie to our service offerings!
What is a "Tovertafel Pixie?"
Tovertafel is an organization that creates interactive projectors designed to help improve the well-being of elderly people living with dementia and Alzheimer's. It includes games co-designed with the help of residents and care professionals, which stimulate physical, social, and cognitive activity.
The Pixie is their mobile, interactive projector, which can be used for both in-library programming and outreach to other locations in our service area.
The Tovertafel Pixie helps further the library's mission of enriching lives and engaging the community by allowing us to reach seniors living with dementia in a unique and significant way.
The Tovertafel games introduce movement, encourage socialization between residents, and promote memory functions of the brain. These moments of fun can help break up the stagnation that aging seniors experience and bring simple happiness and fun back into their lives, increasing their overall well-being!
The best part about the Pixie is its mobility, which lets staff meet seniors where they are, instead of them having to make a trip to the library.
We've already had the opportunity to bring it to several senior living facilities in Grand Haven, and the reception has been wonderful. We see that all residents who played the Tovertafel games became more cognizant and engaged with their peers. The Pixie helps us foster conversations with residents who are initially closed off or uncommunicative.
Funding for the Pixie was provided by a local area family who has a deep concern for the impact that Alzheimer's and dementia has on members of the community. It is thanks to their generous donation that Loutit District Library is able to bring this life-improving device to the community.
"Tovertafel helps us change the way care is provided for the older adult community by offering interactive, multisensory activities that bring joy to our residents. It's easy to see the immediate effect the Tovertafel has on our residents' quality of life as they engage with the games, from bubble popping to playing with an interactive dog, with smiles across their faces. Not only does it bring happiness and laughter to our residents, but it also promotes socialization with their peers who would otherwise not initiate those conversations on their own. By fostering moments of joy and connection, the Tovertafel supports true life-enriching care and can significantly enhance overall quality of life for the older adult community - and so many more! We greatly appreciate our connection with the Loutit District Library for providing these opportunities for our residents and look forward to more visits in the future!"
While developed for seniors living with dementia, the Tovertafel Pixie is great for engaging healthy seniors, those with developmental disabilities, or little ones developing fine motor skills. If your assisted living center or organization is interested in scheduling a visit, please contact the Loutit District Library at
(616) 850-6917 or [email protected].