The global population is aging rapidly, and an increasingly large number of older adults are suffering from dementia. People with dementia are afflicted by loss of cognitive functions, such as memory, language, decision making, and attention. Consequently, they likely lack meaningful, stimulating activities and become agitated and depressed. Medical treatments can delay further degradation of the brain but cannot cure dementia. Several non-pharmacological treatments have therefore been researched, in order to help people with dementia cope with the illness, provide them physical comfort and emotional wellness, and help prolong their remaining cognitive functions.

Treatments such as sensory stimulation, cognitive stimulation, training, and rehabilitation, and plays have been proven effective. Nonetheless, tools to facilitate non-pharmacological treatments are still lacking. Caretakers have to resort to repurposing children toys or making their own tools, which have limited utility and are difficult to replicate and personalize for other users. This work endeavored to tackle this challenge and developed sensory objects for cognitive stimulation and training for older adults and people with dementia. The results are flexible and versatile products. They can help reduce agitation, create positive emotions, and facilitate training of neurocognitive domains; can be used for all dementia levels; can be personalized and adapted to situations of the users; can be configured by caretakers to create new activities and games; can be used by individuals alone, with a caretaker, or in a group, at home, healthcare facilities, daycares, or nursing homes. Thus far, the products have been adopted and used by many people, including families that have people with dementia, geriatric and psychiatric outpatient clinics, cognitive training group therapies, a dementia care center, a community center, nursing homes, and seminars and trainings on dementia care for nursing-home operators and caretakers.