A vision and a large dose of kindness helped to create a dynamic fidget board that’s challenging and entertaining for older east Auckland residents who are living with dementia.
The interactive fidget, or sensory, board was on the to-do list at The Cottage by Ambridge Rose in Pakuranga for several years.
The project took off when a resident’s son-in-law became involved.
The care facility’s manager, Jackie Wood-Ciobanu, talked with Roger Dunn about her ideas for a board, which inspired him, and he offered to build it for her.
“We planned to build a board when my father-in-law, Michael, lived at home,” Dunn says.
“We’d bought and collected a lot of things but didn’t get round to it.”
To make the board for Ambridge Rose residents, Dunn added items from Michael’s garage, and various objects Wood-Ciobanu had collected.
Armed with pictures provided by Wood-Ciobanu, Dunn and his wife Angela researched how to repurpose the materials and played around with the design until they achieved an ideal layout.
When it was nearly ready for installation, Wood-Ciobanu visited the Dunns’ home and went through all the items to check they were suitable for people with dementia.
Dunn was worried some of them were too busy and others weren’t busy enough.
However, Wood-Ciobanu was happy and the fidget board is now installed in a sunny courtyard at the facility where residents, relatives and visitors can explore it in any weather.
A popular item is the musical base of a broken snow globe Angela Dunn bought in Europe soon after the couple was married.
“A lot of the residents play with the telephone, and we probably need to get more,” Roger Dunn says.
He ensured everything had round edges and the design is both sensory and decorative because problem-solving requires creativity and motivation, no matter what age or ability the problem-solver happens to be.
Wood-Ciobanu loves the look on residents’ faces when they discover the board, and they immediately want to touch items that are familiar to them.
There are tools, keys and locks, power points and plugs, little doors, magnetic speakers, Velcro straps, and more.
“It’s a visual symphony and seeing someone enjoying exploring something in that very moment is wonderful,” Wood-Ciobanu says.
The Cottage’s staff, residents and families are grateful for the kindness and ingenuity of the Dunns, who have enhanced the well-being of the growing number of people living with dementia.
