STAFF and residents at Tŷ Dyfan residential home have successfully raised £5,500 for an interactive table designed to engage people living with dementia.

They’re now pushing to raise more funds for its installation.

The Vale council-run home has hosted a variety of fundraising activities including a 10k sponsored walk, cake sales, raffles and Forget-Me-Not events over the past 12 months.

The Rotary Club and the Tesco Bags of Help scheme have also committed donations.

The table’s unique software helps people in the moderate to severe stages of dementia.

Many living with the condition experience depression, isolation and apathy.

The interactive games stimulate both physical and cognitive activity within users and also encourages social interaction.

Funding is now required to install the unit, so staff and residents have been busy fundraising once again.

This time, several of them will take part in the Dementia Memory Walk later this year.

The have also planned a Christmas fair, complete with a raffle and competitions.

Vale council cabinet member for health and social care, Cllr Ben Gray said: “The team at Tŷ Dyfan should be extremely proud.

"All the ideas for fundraising came from the staff and they have worked tirelessly, often on their own time to reach their goal.

"Once installed, the Tovertafel table will benefit the residents massively.”

Gaynor Jones, operational manager, commissioning and information will run the Cardiff half marathon on October 6 to help with the fundraising.

Her husband is a resident at the home.

She said: “I’ve only been running since last year, after completing the Couch 2 5K with the Seriously Mad Runners group in Barry.

"This was a great support, as during this time I was caring for my husband, Tim, who has early onset Alzheimer’s.

“In September of last year Tim had to move in to residential care at Ty Dyfan and the staff have been fantastic in looking after him.

"The Tovertafel table is a great piece of equipment and will provide activities for people like Tim.

"Given that there is still funding required to fully utilise the table, I have decided to run the Cardiff half marathon to raise funds for the cause.

“I started training for the half marathon in July and it’s going well, fingers crossed.

"It’s a big challenge, but knowing that any money raised is going to such a good cause is spurring me on to complete the event.”