I'm Sophie and I make all the blankets myself at my home in Perth, Western Australia. I work as an Occupational Therapist and have worked in aged care for over 6 years, both in the community and in aged care facilities. I have seen first hand how beneficial sensory products can be and that is what has inspired me to start this hobby and make my own.
Who makes TacTiles?
What tiles are available?
Tiles to help maintain fine motor skills for higher functioning individuals-
-Fastenings (zips, buttons, toggles, velcro)
-Weaving
-Threading/lacing
-Marble maze
-Trapped items behind mesh
-Folding/Rolling
Sensory tiles to comfort and create curiosity for more advanced dementia-
-Sensory tubes
-Ribbon loops
-Tactile flowers
-Beads/rings on string
-Different trims and fabrics
-Stuffed pouches
Do sensory products work for everyone with dementia?
The effectiveness of sensory products varies depending on the individual and there is no guarantee that a person will engage with them. People will more likely take to them if they tend to be restless and are actively seeking stimulation from their environment. They might also go through phrases so effectiveness can vary over time and even day to day.
Why are TacTiles different to other sensory products?
I believe that people with dementia still deserve to have lovely things and I try to incorporate that belief into each one of my designs. I try to create something that appeals to me as well as meeting the needs of someone with dementia and if there is a space where I can enhance the interest and feel of a blanket I will. A lot of other sensory products are basic, poor quality and unattractive. I strive to make my blankets more luxurious and a perfect present for someone to receive.
I also believe that being an occupational therapist helps my blankets stand out from others. As an occupational therapist it is part of my job to try to get people with dementia to engage in meaningful and stimulating activities in order to slow down their decline and improve quality of life. I have underlying knowledge of how people with dementia see and interact with their environment and incorporate this into my blankets. For example, I use contrasting, bold colours with minimal patterns. This helps with their vision and identifying the distinct areas on the blanket. Although my blanket can contain lots of elements, there is always a structure and they are not overly cluttered as this could be very difficult for someone with dementia to process.
Another part of my job is knowing how to break down activities and modify them in order for them to be achievable for someone with dementia. Although this is usually done on a 1:1 basis I can still use some of the same fundamental ideas. This could mean making items larger and/or reducing the number of items in a task eg, it would be amazing to have a weaving tile with 30 strands to weave however this would be incredibly overwhelming and unachievable to someone with dementia so instead I stick to about 3 or 4 strands. This will increase satisfaction and likelihood that they will engage in the task.
Are sensory products only for people with dementia?
Although I primarily make sensory blankets for those with dementia they are also commonly used for children and those with autism and anxiety. However I do not recommend use with children as my products have not gone through the rigorous safety checks needed for children and can be a choking hazard.
