In this conversation, Judith will introduce the Fidget Widget® Toolkit. It was launched in 2018 and was the culmination of 10 years research and development.

Judith, former Dementia Adviser and Trainer for Alzheimer’s Society and Jane Souyave, former Senior Design Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, UCLan, worked together on sensory tactile projects for people affected by dementia and their caregivers.

They realised that there were very few activities for people with later stage dementia, and in collaboration with Active Minds (now Relish) secured innovation funding to develop the toolkit.

The Fidget Widget® Toolkit combines touch, feel, and repetitive movements. There is no right or wrong way to use the Fidget Widgets, it does not rely on memory or words, allowing users to discover their own creative ways to explore and interact with the tools.