'It makes you feel alive' - New non-medical therapy for dementia patients across Devon
People living with dementia in Plymouth and throughout Devon are being offered the chance to improve their memory and cognitive skills with online Cognitive Stimulation Therapy.
The virtual CST sessions are a range of fun and social talking activities for small groups, based on exercises which work the different functions of our brain.
The therapy has been shown through extensive research and evidence to slow the progress of some of the main challenges of dementia - memory loss, communication difficulties and thinking skills.
The Devon project has been welcomed by Memory Service consultants who say it will have a significant impact on the lives of people living with dementia and help those delivering a diagnosis.
Dr Chitra Srinivasan, Associate Clinical Director, Devon Memory Service and Consultant for Older Adults says: "More evidence is saying that CST is the only non-medical treatment for people to change the pathway of dementia.
"Everybody who receives a diagnosis of dementia should have access to CST."
Hanna Winteridge, Devon Memory Service Manager adds: "It gives the consultants something positive to talk about. You're giving that devastating diagnosis, and this can all feel quite negative.
"So, to have something positive with good results to talk about, I think that helps the person working in the clinic, as well as the patient."
Memory Matters have run face to face CST workshops for the past 10 years across Devon and Cornwall. At the start of the lockdown in March, they moved their groups online.
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