My name is Liya Sebastian, and I am raising funds to cover the cost of a project with the goal of designing, assembling, and donating multi-sensory tools to local Senior Living facilities.

The number of Seniors in the US aged 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050, a 47% increase. My project is important because this type of sensory tool and other multi-sensory fidgets, which have been shown to reduce aggression and agitation, help the elderly community and the people who take care of them. A fidget toy that exercises all of the different senses could support the elderly community by improving their overall functioning through daily life. A non-pharmacological intervention like this tool helps mitigate behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s.

The funds will be specifically used to purchase the materials necessary to assemble these tools. This includes, for example, wooden boards, paint, different fabrics like silk, felt, and cotton, pop tubes, flat marbles, yarn, wooden rods, wooden beads, and hot glue.