Making a Difference

This manual is for people who want to make a difference to the quality of life of  the people with dementia they are working with. It describes a specific programme of group activity and stimulation, grounded firmly in the values of person-centred care and suitable for use with many people with dementia.

The cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) programme has been thoroughly tested and has many practical advantages.:

• It’s simple and straight forward: staff do not need special qualifications, expensive training or special equipment – just a person-centred approach, commitment and imagination
• Two leaders (staff or volunteers) meet with a small group of people with dementia for 45 minutes, twice a week
• The evaluation showed improvements on testing memory and other abilities, and the conclusion was that the programme was just as effective as the drugs developed to help people with dementia.

This program is designed to be used in care homes, day care centres, hospitals and community settings. As well as being user-friendly and practical, it emphasises the importance of getting to know each individual with dementia, and offers involvement, choice, inclusion and fun. Above all else it seeks to maximise the potential of every member of the group.

An evidence-based group programme to offer maintenance cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) to people with dementia.