Veterans at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, are using an interactive gaming system to stay mentally and socially engaged. According to KWCH, the system has been in use for about a month and was donated by the American Legion Auxiliary of Kansas.
The system, described by the VA as a “Magic Table,” projects games onto a table, wall, floor, or even a bed sheet. It includes more than 150 games covering memory, education, entertainment, and interactive activities. The setup uses motion tracking, sound, and projections to enable Veterans to participate through movement and gestures.
Staff at the Dole VA said the technology gives Veterans another way to interact with each other and with caregivers during the day. Dr. Christine Schrag, associate chief of staff for Geriatric and Extended Care, said in the KWCH report that the system helps keep Veterans socially engaged, especially on long days.
The system also includes two-player games, which give Veterans a way to play together instead of taking part alone. That matters in a care setting where social connection can affect a Veteran’s daily routine, mood, and willingness to leave their room. KSN reported that for Veterans dealing with PTSD, anxiety, depression, or loneliness, the simple game can create a reason to sit with someone else, talk, laugh, and share a moment outside of medical appointments or treatment.
The games are being used as structured activities rather than something placed in front of Veterans without purpose. Sara Monckton, Community Living Center nurse manager, shared with KWCH that some Veterans ask to “play with the fish,” referring to one of the fishing games on the system. Staff said those games can lead to conversation, including Veterans sharing memories of their own fishing experiences.
That interaction is part of what VA staff and Auxiliary leaders hoped the system would provide. The VA said the equipment is intended to help older Veterans, including those with cognitive decline, while also supporting group participation, individual use, physical activity, and cognitive stimulation.
Monckton explained that the system can benefit Veterans with and without cognitive decline. She also said it can help rebuild a sense of camaraderie that has been harder to maintain since COVID, giving Veterans a reason to leave their rooms, work through games together, and spend time with others.
Tracy Kinnick, past department president of the American Legion Auxiliary for Kansas, helped bring the system to the facility after seeing similar technology at a national convention. She said the goal was to support interaction, friendships, and connections for Veterans who may feel lonely.
The technology shows how gaming and interactive technology can be used outside traditional entertainment. At Dole VA, the system is being used as a care tool that encourages movement, conversation, memory sharing, and fellowship. For Veterans in long-term or extended care settings, that kind of engagement can make daily routines feel more active, more social, and more connected.
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