How it all began
In 2020 the world was turned upside down and all hearts were heavily laden. COVID-19 had transformed everything: particularly to our care home residents who suddenly became more isolated than ever. Families couldn’t visit. Hugs were risky. Smiles were hidden behind masks.
But then in the midst of the sad times came a ray of light: The Happiness Programme and the Magic Table, designed by the brilliant group of people at Social Ability https://social-ability.co.uk/ specifically to address the challenges of providing tailored activities for residents. It gave us many opportunities to feel connected in a lockdown time, and in a blink, five amazing years of entertainment, funniness, and engagement have just slipped by.
More Than Just a Table: It’s Magic!
The Magic Table is not only a technical device – but as the name indicates, a way to deliver happiness. It is specially designed to accommodate older people such as those with dementia and limited mobility in response to touch, sound, and movement through lights, colours and interactive games.
The Magic Table has been life-changing to our bedbound residents, who occasionally find it hard to participle in group activities. They are able to play, laugh, interact without using their strength or speech, through movement of hands or tapping on the surface. One of the residents who barely spoke up at all, became very cheerful when she had the chance to have bubbles on her fingertips. There is a resident who would spend his days in the corner who now finds himself giggling after every time he would pop virtual balloons.
Even more magical is the effect it has on the memory of our residents living with dementia: the latter can be reunited with their happy memories thanks to the Magic Table. The sensory stimulation — whether it’s the sound of rain, the sight of falling leaves, or the fun of “catching” fish on the screen can trigger moments of clarity, conversation, and even singing!
A Lifeline for Our Activities Coordinators
The Happiness Programme has changed the work of our resourceful Activities Coordinators as well. Many activity coordinators sometimes face challenges to find something to suit the tastes of each resident. Today, we have The Magic Table: a versatile engaging application that will engage all types of residents: to a person who is completely mobile, who is in a wheelchair, to those in bed and even encourage social interaction with group games.
“This isn’t just an activity—it’s a way for our residents’ personalities to shine,” says one of our coordinators. Residents who were formerly very quiet will shout out in one of the games of virtual football or begin to narrate stories about their gardens when flowers appear on the screen.
And the best part? Social Ability didn’t just give us the tools—they walked alongside us every step of the way. Their team has been there for us, making sure we get the most out of the programme with hands-on workshops, refresher sessions, and so much more.
Five Years Later—And Still Growing
Half a decade on, the Happiness Programme is more than just a project—it’s part of our homes’ heartbeat. We’ve seen:
- More smiles, even on tough days
- Residents feeling less lonely, more connected
- Families moved to tears when they see their loved ones engaged
- Staff feeling empowered with new ways to care
A huge THANK YOU to the Social Ability team—your innovation and dedication have made all the difference. We can’t wait to see what the next five years bring!
#GladtoCare #MagicTable #HappinessProgramme