Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST): An Overview for Clinicians

CST allows groups of older adults with mild to severe memory loss to interact with others, have meaningful activities and improve their quality of life.
This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB4HP19060, Gateway Geriatric Education Center, for $483,845 . This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

[@samanthifernando8283]

I am doing this as a mixed group activity with cognitively stable and deteriorated residents, asking the names of the fruits, vegetables, desserts, and flowers,countries, countries of asia, europe , middle east, favourite food and drinks. Some residents respond quickly and residents who have deteriorated also listen and answer. Some residents say that's my favourite. Some residents repeat their favourite food or drink several times until I talk to that person and have a conversation with him. At the end i feel happy, because some residents who I thought would not interact with this activity have responded not been passive participants.

[@anahidheemstra8077]

Thank you very well presented great activities Anna

[@darlenewalker2732]

This class was informative for learning how to teach CST participants.

[@ydtofficial871]

I try to hold a conversation with my mother who suffers from Alzheimer and dementia. She has lost the ability to walk in addition to this she has very poor sight. She talks to me but her words are muddled and ends up making noises when words don't come out. I interrupt her and try to get her to focus on what she were saying before. Its so very difficult sometimes. She used to like painting but her sight prevents her from doing this. She has very little stimulation in the residential home that she is in. But she loves to sing a long to the words of old songs. She remembers most words but cannot use them in a sentence when speaking.I tend to understand her most times through body language. Do you think items like the Brainpath Spiral may help her or trying a group talk. I'm worried other residents wont interact with her because of her confusion with words. Can you offer me any advice at all? A little is far better than nothing,thank you.

[@jillgenrich1363]

JGREMNANTS12 I read your post with a tear because i can feel the love you have for your mum and the helplessness you must feel that no one has replied. All i can suggest is use music that your mum enjoys, have her in some old clothes, sitting at a table covered in paper and give her paint and paint brushes. Encourage her to move the paint to the music and sing at the same time. Not sure about a group thing, it depends on if your mum has always been a social person and might follow others. Anything is worth a try. Best of luck and i hope i help some how xx