Celebrating 10 Years of Tover
In 2015, Tover launched the first Tovertafel with a big bang! This first of a kind product brought a big change to memory care. 10 years and countless moments of happiness later, we are proud to celebrate our anniversary as the founders of a category that has brought joy, connection, and meaningful interaction to people with cognitive challenges and their caregivers all over the world.
Breaking through apathy
The journey began with a vision shaped by our founder, Hester Le Riche, whose research, creativity, and determination led to the invention of the Tovertafel. During her PhD research at the TU Delft and VU Amsterdam, Hester focused on how technology and play could address challenges in dementia care. Her work centered on the well-being of people living with dementia and the pressing need to break through apathy and bring more physical activity, interaction and joy into their lives.
Hester spent countless hours observing and speaking with caregivers and elderly living with dementia. She saw firsthand how traditional approaches to dementia care often focused on physical needs but left little room for meaningful engagement or moments of joy. Especially in the latest stages of dementia. The answer came in the form of purposeful play. This concept became the foundation of her work, combining science, creativity, and empathy to create something entirely new.
The first Tovertafel
In 2015, Hester launched the first Tovertafel; a unique gaming system using interactive light projections to engage people living with dementia in a fun and playful way. The Tovertafel was designed to do more than entertain; it was created to encourage both physical and cognitive activity, and create moments of connection between residents and their caregivers.
Hester’s co-design process with care staff, family and seniors with dementia ensured that the games respond seamlessly to the most urgent needs of care staff and the interests of the players. Every game has a positive impact. The result was a product that transformed care settings, creating spaces filled with laughter, smiles, and meaningful interactions.
Worldwide movement
Today, the Tovertafel is used in 16 countries, supporting care for people with dementia, adults with intellectual disabilities, and children with diverse learning needs. Every game we develop is backed by scientific research and designed to enrich the quality of life of the players while reducing stress and turnover for caregivers. The games are proven to be effective at physical, cognitive, social, and sensory levels. They stimulate movement, social interaction, and moments of happiness.
At Tover, we are very proud to celebrate 10 years of leading this purposeful movement. As we reflect on our past, we are inspired to continue growing, innovating, and pushing boundaries for the next 10 years and beyond. Together, we’ll continue to bring joy, connection, and impact to care and education worldwide.