Many years ago, I was called upon to support a large care home that had received a poor rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The report highlighted a lack of meaningful activities for the residents, and when I visited, I found most of them either sleeping or staring blankly into space in the communal lounges. Determined to make a positive impact, I decided to introduce Cognitive Stimulation Therapy in practice as part of my support plan for the care home. This decision led to one of the most heart-warming and emotional experiences I have had in over twenty years of working in the care sector.
I collaborated with the registered manager and activity coordinators to compile a list of potential attendees for the CST group. I personally chatted with each resident to see if they would be interested in joining “our little club.” Eventually, we had eight enthusiastic residents ready to participate.
On the first morning of our sessions, I went to collect the potential group members from the lounges. Most were snoozing, but with a bit of gentle persuasion, six out of the eight agreed to join me. Our group consisted of a mix of four women and two men.
During the first session, I discovered some fascinating stories about these individuals. The women included Margaret, a retired teacher; Betty, a dancer who also excelled in tennis; Rana, an Indian woman who had come to England during the partition and later became a teacher; and Joan, who had raised a large family but often displayed distress behaviours that worried the staff. The men were less vocal at first. Bob, who pulled his flat cap over his face and slept through most of the session, and Nigel, who simply observed and was initially reluctant to engage. We didn’t learn much about them during the first session.
The group chose a name for themselves and picked “We’ll Meet Again” by Vera Lynn as their theme song. Each session began and ended with this tune, creating a warm and familiar atmosphere. We served tea and homemade cake during breaks, and engaged in Cognitive Stimulation Therapy activities and discussions.
The second session, held two days later, was even more intriguing. We welcomed another lady, bringing our group to seven members. Bob surprised us all by staying awake, watching the others with interest, and finally singing a spirited rendition of “We’ll Meet Again” at the session’s end. Rana frequently recounted her traumatic journey from India to England, weaving it into every discussion, while Betty proudly showcased her fitness and dance skills with animated, seated demonstrations. Joan proudly told us about her large family, although she could no longer remember all the names.
As the sessions progressed, the group began to remember each other’s names, and Nigel even started flirting with Betty, prompting lots of giggles and laughter. Although we faced some moments of frustration, like when hearing aids didn’t work properly, each member gradually relaxed and began to enjoy themselves. Driving home after each session, I reflected on the noticeable differences in their abilities and demeanour. It was clear that our Cognitive Stimulation Therapy sessions were making a significant impact.
Around session six, the activities facilitator asked me, “Did you notice anything different today?” and I immediately understood. Rana hadn’t mentioned her journey once during the session. Instead, we had tried on various hats, guessing who might have worn them. Rana was particularly taken with a red hat adorned with flowers, so much so that she refused to take it off and wore it back to the lounge, repeatedly asking, “Do I look beautiful?” And indeed, she did.
Our sessions became so popular that other residents wanted to join, leading us to create a second group that met in the afternoons on the same day. Initially, this seemed like a perfect solution until we realised that the original group also wanted to join the afternoon sessions – it was delightful, happy mayhem!
At the end of the twelve sessions, I reflected on the incredible journey we had shared. Bob was now laughing, telling jokes, and singing with enthusiasm. Back in the lounge, he engaged in conversations with other group members and rarely slept in his chair. Rana was happier and enjoyed chatting with Margaret and Joan. The entire group had “come alive” during the CST sessions, and their lively conversations continued long after each session ended. As we took the lift back to the lounge, the group insisted on singing “their song” all the way down the corridor and in the lift, their joy spilling out as the doors opened, bringing smiles to the faces of the staff.
That evening, as I drove home, I shed a tear of happiness for the wonderful people I had come to know and the transformative power of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy.
Family members wrote to the home, expressing their gratitude for introducing Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and marvelling at the difference it had made in their loved ones’ lives.
If you’re considering implementing CST in your service, why not give it a try? You can find out more about what our Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) course entails, and please, feel free to call Juanita for more information.
Throughout this article, the names of individuals have been changed in order to protect their identity.