Equipment funded through partnership with Southern Star
Patients at Wendell Foster have a new therapeutic tool — the “Sparkle Station” — that could help with various motor skills while also decompressing to have some fun. The interactive light panel was unveiled Tuesday.
The Sparkle panel is made by NunoErin and uses bio-sensing technology. According to their site, “an embedded network of full-spectrum LEDs and capacitive sensors offers unique light effects that respond to touch.”
Twenty interactive light programs cycle automatically every two minutes, offering users an array of light, color, and touch experiences.
“A simple touch is all that’s needed to enjoy the effects of Sparkle, making the experience intuitive and accessible to all ages and abilities,” NunoErin’s site reads. “Customers use touch as their guide to discover, relax and recharge, while socializing and engage in other activities.”
The Sparkle panel, which measures 99 inches wide and 36 inches tall and was installed in a wall of the new Latham Outpatient Therapy Facility, cost $6,000 and was fully funded by Southern Star.
It was Karen Goedde, Southern Star’s Director of Corporate Communications & Public Relations, who saw a similar piece of equipment at the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt — and she thought it would make a great addition to Wendell Foster. After a year, the idea finally came to fruition.
“We are proud to be Wendell Foster’s partner for the Sparkle Station Project,” Goedde said. “We hope that Wendell Foster clients enjoy it. We hope they have fun interacting with this piece of equipment to help accomplish their therapy goals.”
Charity Pinkston, Wendell Foster Director of Physical Therapy, said clients could use the panel for numerous types of therapy or building motor skills — such as weight shifting, reaching, side stepping, motivation to stand and playing with their hands free. She said while it’s geared toward children, even adults could use and enjoy the equipment.
Doug Hoyt, Wendell Foster CEO, said they value the partnership with Southern Star to provide the therapeutic tool.
“This partnership is the beginning of something we hope is long-standing and has the opportunity to help those we serve,” Hoyt said. “It shows the support of Southern Star to the community and Wendell Foster.”
