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Having a proven impact together

Research

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Why is research so important?

The first Tovertafel emerged from the PhD research of Tover's CEO and creator of the Tovertafel Hester Anderiesen Le Riche at Delft University of Technology and VU University of Amsterdam. Research still plays a central role in the development and evaluation of the Tovertafel.

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Getting to know the target audience

If you really want to have an impact, you need to know the target audience through and through. That is what Tover does. Our co-design method and the research we conduct give us a clear picture of our target audiences and an understanding of how our product influences their behaviors and emotions. This allows us to develop a product that incorporates both care and enjoyment. Games that are not only fun to play, but also have a real impact on people with cognitive challenges. Together with care professionals, we improve their quality of life.

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Do our games really work?

 It’s important to us that everything we create has beneficial effects. That’s why research continues to play a central role in developing and improving our products and services. This stems from our beginnings in 2015, when our CEO and founder Hester Le Riche developed the first Tovertafel as part of her PhD project. Today, research remains at the heart of everything we do.

The research studies we conduct give us a clear picture of our target audiences and an understanding of how our product influences their behaviors and emotions. This allows us to develop solutions that stimulate enjoyment and purposeful play. Such as serious games that are not only fun to play, but also have a real impact on people with cognitive challenges.

Our products are developed and evaluated with the contribution of independent research partners. We have found that a joint approach leads to the best insights. These research partners include universities and colleges from around the world, as well as individuals who work for nursing homes, foundations, care or educational institutions.

Co-design en Wetenschappelijk onderzoek staan centraal bij Tover

Tover conducts research together

We believe it is important that the Tovertafel has real, measurable effects on the well-being of people with cognitive challenges and their care professionals, family and friends. That’s why all our games are developed in co-design: in collaboration with the target audience and those around them. This way, we are able to create games that fit seamlessly with the needs and requirements of the target audience, which also have a positive effect on the lives of people with a cognitive challenge.

Discover the power of co-design

Tover performs three types of studies

  • Effect studies

    Do the games and products do what we promise? Effect studies are used to assess to what extent the effects we aim to achieve are actually achieved.

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  • Exploratory studies

    Exploratory studies are used to explore new applications for our games and products. Are there any more people we can help with our games?

  • Implementation studies

    How can the Tovertafel be used as best as possible within the organisation and what are factors that influence this? This is the primary aim of implementation studies.

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Effect studies

What is the effect of the Tovertafel on nursing home residents living with dementia? A small-scale evaluation

Research method

This research, conducted in 2017, was part of the PhD of dr. Hester Anderiesen Le Riche, CEO of Tover. Six nursing home residents living with dementia were observed in three situations: sitting in the lounge, drinking coffee and playing with the Tovertafel. The care professionals observed more physical activity, more social activity, more joy and less sadness while playing with the Tovertafel than in the two other situations. The increase in physical activity and the decrease in sadness were statistically significant.

Conclusions

This was the first study which showed that the Tovertafel:

  • conquers apathy
  • reduces sadness in nursing home residents
  • stimulates physical activity

This research is publicly available.

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Quality of life of nursing home residents living with dementia before, during and after playing with the Tovertafel

Research method

In this study, Master student Leonie Bruil (Advanced Nursing Practice at the Arnhem/Nijmegen University of Applied Sciences) studied the changes in the quality of life of nursing home residents living with dementia, before, during and after playing with the Tovertafel. A total of 34 residents were observed during 15-minute game sessions on five consecutive working days.

The sessions had direct, noticeable effects. The researchers measured a higher quality of life in the players after playing with the Tovertafel than before playing with it. In addition, improvements were seen after up to one week of playing with the Tovertafel. The beneficial effects included a decrease in negative emotions, a decrease in restlessness, and a more positive self-image.

Conclusions

This research concluded that:

  • the Tovertafel improves the quality of life of elderly people living with dementia
  • the beneficial effects of the Tovertafel last up to one week after playing with the Tovertafel

This research is publicly available.

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What is quality of life for nursing home residents living with dementia, and how does the Tovertafel contribute to this? A qualitative study

Research method

Student Manon Kuipers (Master Vitality and Ageing, Leiden University Medical Center) conducted a literature study on the dimensions of quality of life and tested her findings on care staff. In addition, Manon interviewed care workers about the effects of the Tovertafel on the quality of life of nursing home residents living with dementia.

Some of the positive effects that were mentioned included stimulation, social interaction and enjoyment. The care professionals also noticed a reduction in restlessness and negative feelings. Another way in which the Tovertafel was said to improve quality of life was by strengthening the relationship between care professionals and residents. This is also an important effect.

Conclusions

This study shows that…

  • the goals of the Tovertafel games consciously tap into the different dimensions of quality of life
  • the Tovertafel activates nursing home residents and promotes social interaction whilst bringing them joy
  • the Tovertafel has a positive effect on the quality of life of elderly residents

The Tovertafel: Evaluation of the impact of the activating game on the caregivers of elderly people with dementia

Research method

In this study, Yunsheng Su – a Master student at University College London – studied the impact of the Tovertafel on the welfare of care professionals and family members of elderly people living with dementia (at home and in a nursing home). Yunsheng took interviews and distributed a survey among care professionals to determine the effect of the Tovertafel on job satisfaction. The answers show that the Tovertafel gives care professionals peace of mind and strengthens their relationship with clients. It also shows that the Tovertafel increases joy and positive emotions among residents, care professionals, family members and partners. Quality care and enjoyment in one.

Conclusions

This study shows that…

  • the Tovertafel has a positive influence on care professionals of elderly people living with dementia
  • the Tovertafel increases job satisfaction of care professionals
  • the Tovertafel gives players an enjoyable and positive experience

What is the impact of the Tovertafel on the well-being of nursing home residents, their care professionals and their family members?

Research method

Four researchers from Portsmouth University in the UK analysed the impact of the Tovertafel on nursing home residents living with dementia, their care professionals and their family members. They interviewed a total of 12 care professionals who worked in a nursing home.

The results show that playing with the Tovertafel improves the mental well-being of residents, helps conquer apathy, reduces restlessness and increases their engagement. This research also contributes to the evidence base which suggests that the Tovertafel improves the relationship between nursing home residents and care professionals, as well as the relationship between residents and family members.

Conclusions

This study shows that…

  • the Tovertafel reduces apathy and restlessness in elderly people living with dementia
  • the Tovertafel improves the relationship between nursing home residents and their care professionals
  • the Tovertafel helps make visits from family members more meaningful

This research is publicly available.

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The Tovertafel helps increase physical activity and social interaction for adults with severe intellectual disabilities.

Research method

Swedish researchers Lena Talman and Christine Gustafsson of Mälardalen University carried out a study into the effects of the Tovertafel for adultswith severe intellectual (and multiple) disabilities. The research was conducted over a period of 11 months in a daily activities centre. The experiences of the care professionals were analysed before, during and after the 11-month test period.

The research shows that the Tovertafel increases physical activity, concentration and social interaction between the clients during the game.  Cooperation during the game is stimulated. Some users now show their acquired knowledge in other activities as well: the so-called transfer effect. Examples of this include interaction with others and the ability to wait for their turn. In short, the Tovertafel has had a huge impact.

Conclusions

This study shows that…

  • the Tovertafel has a positive effect on the daily activities of adults with an intellectual disability
  • the Tovertafel increases social interaction, also outside the game sessions
  • the Tovertafel increases physical activity

This research is publicly available.

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What is needed to improve the frequency and quality of visits to elderly people living with dementia in nursing homes and which role can the Tovertafel play in this respect?

Research method

In this study, student Judith van Hove analysed the needs of family members when visiting an elder person living with dementia in a nursing home. She also examined the factors that influence the quality of the visit. To this end, Judith interviewed nine family members of nursing home residents living with dementia. At the end of the interview, the interviewees were allowed to play with the Tovertafel.

The study shows that family members often experience their visit as confrontational and difficult. Positive emotions in the person living with dementia, as well as interaction and response, were mentioned as needs. They also expressed the need to take part in an activity during the visit. All the family members were enthusiastic about playing with the Tovertafel and they described it as an added value for their visit. This shows that the Tovertafel also has a positive influence on clients’ surroundings.

Conclusions

This study shows that…

  • the Tovertafel increases interaction between family members and elderly people living with dementia
  • the Tovertafel significantly improves the quality of visit
  • the Tovertafel fulfills the needs of family members during a visit
  • the Tovertafel makes visits to a loved one in a nursing home more enjoyable

Implementation studies

What do care professionals need in order to use the Tovertafel to provide personalised care?

Research method

Lenka Besseling, a Master student of the Vitality and Ageing programme at Leiden University Medical Center, investigated the extent to which nursing home staff use the Tovertafel to provide personalised care. This qualitative study consists of 10 interviews, of which five with care professionals, four with activity specialists and one with a welfare worker.

The study shows that care workers see the Tovertafel as a way to improve the well-being of residents. Activity specialists and welfare staff use the Tovertafel as a fun activity to stimulate movement and to stimulate social interaction. The Tovertafel also helps create a peaceful atmosphere.

The care professionals also see opportunities for using the Tovertafel to provide personalized care, for example for evaluating behavior. It is important that activity specialists and welfare staff report their findings and share them with care professionals.

Conclusions

This study shows that…

  • the Tovertafel can, according to care professionals, contribute to the provision of personalized care
  • the Tovertafel has a positive effect on the well-being of residents
  • the Tovertafel helps create a peaceful atmosphere in nursing homes

What factors affect the sustainable use of the Tovertafel in nursing homes?

Research method

Evert van Grol, Master student of Management Policy Analysis and Entrepreneurship in Health and Life Sciences at VU University Amsterdam, carried out a research on the sustainability of the Tovertafel in nursing homes. The word ‘sustainable’ is meant here in its literal and not environmental sense. In other words, the regular, long-term use of the Tovertafel.

Results of this study show that several factors influence the sustainable use of the Tovertafel. An important factor is the involvement of care professionals of all disciplines in the implementation of the Tovertafel. It is also important that the Tovertafel unit can be moved easily and shared with different departments. Finally, knowledge about the games and the effects on residents living with dementia is important. Taking these factors into account will also ensure the long-term success of the Tovertafel.

Conclusions

This study shows that…

  • several factors influence the sustainable use of Tovertafel
  • optimisation of these factors will contribute to sustainable use of the Tovertafel

The Tovertafel. Learn about implementation.

Research method

Anne Huvenaars and Esme Hadra, two students of Residential Social Work and Pedagogical Services (SPH) at the Arnhem/Nijmegen University of Applied Sciences, carried out a research into the use of the Tovertafel at two locations of a care institution. Results of this study show which factors play a role in the successful implementation of the Tovertafel.

Key factors include a good introduction to the Tovertafel for all employees, and an implementation plan explaining the goals of the games. Another important factor is the presence of a person who has been involved in the purchase of the Tovertafel and feels responsible for encouraging the use of the Tovertafel among colleagues. This has ensures the success of the Tovertafel in multiple locations.

Conclusions

This study shows that…

  • an implementation plan plays a key role in the success of the Tovertafel
  • a thorough introduction of the Tovertafel increases frequency of use
  • care professionals must have insight into the goals to be achieved with the Tovertafel in order for its use to be successful
 
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