Cognitive Stimulation Therapy

This service is currently free of charge.

Age UK Tunbridge Wells
Wood Street
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN1 2QS
United Kingdom

Email: info@ageuktw.org.uk
Telephone: 01892 522591

Over 850,000 people in the UK are living with dementia - that’s one in six people over 80.

What is Cognitive Stimulation Therapy/ CST?

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, or CST for short, is a specific programme of group activity and stimulation suitable for use with people who are living with dementia or experiencing memory loss. Through the programme, we aim to slow the progression of dementia and improve the quality of your life, enhance your ability to communicate and help boost your mood.

What can I expect if I join a CST group?

These are courses in which group members take part in a different activity each week, specially designed to stimulate cognitive function.

The groups are small (up to eight participants), and very informal. Each session begins with a coffee, a chat, and a chance for group members to get to know each other. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the idea is to have fun and get to know the other group members, as well as benefit from the activities. After that, we will start an activity which is designed to stimulate different areas of the brain each week. These activities are geared to what you, as an individual, feel comfortable doing.

The activities we do have been designed by specialist neuropsychologists for people in the early stages of dementia. Each activity is aimed at stimulating one specific area of the brain. They are not complex, and might include word or number games, reminiscence, discussion, quizzes, and puzzles. The emphasis is on laughter, enjoyment and inclusion. In recent weeks we’ve played Musical Bingo, made chocolate spread out of mashed potato, debated the positives and negatives of modern art, and sung ‘If I Had A Hammer’ with percussion backing…

What can I expect if I join a Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (MCST) group?

MCST follows on from the CST course and is suitable for people who have completed CST and would like to carry on with the weekly sessions.

The Maintenance sessions follow similar themes to the CST sessions, with some new themes added, but it aims to use different materials where possible, to avoid repetition. The structure of the sessions is the same as CST, however, so it will feel familiar to you.

Upcoming sessions

Initially, we encourage people to join in a trial session (by appointment). You can join in at any stage during the course and you can attend as many sessions as you like.

The current CST course will end in May 2024 and the new MCST course will begin after that.

Sessions take place on Tuesdays in the morning (11.00 – 12.30) and afternoon (2.00 – 3.30). They will be of greatest benefit to those who have a relatively recent diagnosis of dementia.

Feedback

‘…Thank you so much….my husband benefits a great deal and always look forward to attending the group..’

‘The highlight of my week…’

‘I know Mum really loves it….’

‘Thank you for all the care and consideration you showed…it really is an invaluable service.’

Contact

If you’re interested in either the CST or the MCST group (they are basically very similar in content) please contact Age UK Tunbridge Wells or call Jo Marks directly on 07591 530963.