Cognitive stimulation therapy is a popular form (increasingly) and also successful in treating mild to moderate dementia symptoms. Cognitive stimulation therapy is a themed activity program that usually takes place over several weeks in small groups, led by a properly trained nurse, an occupational therapist, and a caregiver.
Each session addresses a different topic and is designed to improve the mental abilities and memory of a person with dementia. The evidence so far suggests that cognitive stimulation with therapy may be as beneficial as drug treatments for dementia symptoms.
3 things you should know about cognitive stimulation therapy
- Cognitive stimulation therapy is the only non-drug treatment which is recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE: National Institute for Clinical Excellence).
- The program is generally carried out in more than 14 sessions, lasting about 45 minutes and containing structured conversations and group activities. Groups are deliberately small, often consisting of only five to eight people.
- Cognitive stimulation therapy is often carried out in nursing homes, Alzheimer's clinics or day centers. The program is generally led by a professional who has been specially trained.
What really happens
Each session follows the same structure, although the topic may change. Topics could include childhood, food, current affairs, and the use of money. Different activities will be offered around each theme, for example, one week the activities could include word games or board games, another week playing a musical instrument, another week painting, etc. The group should provide a supportive environment and the activities should offer a range of multi-sensory experiences, although what matters most in these cases is that it is fun.
Cognitive stimulation therapy works
A study in 23 day centers showed that these therapies have significant benefits on mental capacity and memory, similar to the benefits of taking medication for memory loss symptoms. Additional research revealed that these therapies could also have a significant impact on language skills, such as remembering names, finding words, and improving understanding. There was also an increase in confidence and psychological well-being who attend this type of cognitive stimulation therapies.
What happens next?
Once the 14-week program ends, a maintenance program consisting of 26 sessions, one per week, is recommended. Recent research suggests that people who participate in the maintenance program follow feeling the benefits cognitively for up to six months later.
If you are interested in this type of therapy, you can ask your GP or any other health professional to find out what treatment plans exist in your community or closest locality. In addition, it is good to know that cognitive stimulation therapy can also be carried out individually at home, but you have to learn to do it well for there to be good results. In order to find out how you can carry out these activities, it will be necessary for a professional to instruct you.
As you have seen, the benefits of cognitive stimulation therapy for people with dementia is very high, but this type of therapy can also adapt its programs for other types of needs. There may also be cognitive stimulation therapies for people with brain disorders that influence memory, for older people who, although they do not have dementia, want to improve their memory capacity, for people who are simply interested in this topic ... There are even cognitive stimulation programs for boys and girls with maturational delay, mental retardation or a learning disability.
Cognitive stimulation is undoubtedly a powerful tool to work with the human brain and without a doubt, great results can be achieved without it being what is desired. For this reason, do not hesitate to seek professional help if you think it is a good way to help someone to have a better memory and understanding of the environment in which they live, or perhaps to improve their psychological well-being.