What is cognitive stimulation therapy?

Cognitive stimulation includes all activities to stimulate and improve cognitive functioning: memory, language, attention, concentration, reasoning, abstraction, and arithmetic operations. The aim is to improve or maintain cognitive functioning and reduce dependence, working on the capabilities that a patient still retains, while attempting to avoid the frustration of being ill.

Hence, this treatment is based on stimulating and maintaining existing cognitive abilities, with the aim of improving or maintaining cognitive functioning and delaying the deterioration that occurs with age and certain illnesses. As a human ages, they undergo changes inside and out, and their cognitive abilities diminish with the passing of time, however, this differs between individuals in terms of how rapidly this decline occurs.

Cognitive changes can have different causes:

• Ageing
• Memory problems related to age
• Progressive deterioration that results from dementia
• Mild cognitive impairment
• A neurodegenerative disease
• Alzheimer's type dementia

Why is cognitive stimulation therapy done?

Cognitive stimulation is performed to maintain certain brain functions through activities and exercises. Such exercises may include word games, quizzes, board games, Sudoku, discussions, physical activities or creative activities. Performing various types of activities can enhance the cognitive stimulation of each individual.

Preparation for cognitive stimulation therapy

The most important thing is to adapt the environment to the person with cognitive issues and not vice versa. The exercises should be facilitated and simplified in order for them to be achieved with success by the patient. To be helpful, cognitive stimulation should be done on a day-to-day basis.

Care during cognitive stimulation therapy

For patients doing cognitive stimulation activities, it will sometimes be necessary to provide assistance, for example, providing clues or prompts. In addition, you should not give importance to the mistakes the patient may make and also avoid making the patient feel like they aren’t performing well.