Real stories

How cognitive stimulation therapy has helped me with my dementia

I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2020 and then with dementia in 2021. It was a difficult time and I became very withdrawn.

I didn’t feel like doing anything or going anywhere. 

I didn’t want to leave my front door or do anything around the house, including the washing and cleaning. 

My husband James had to do everything.

Creative activities

Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) was first suggested to me when I started going to an Age UK centre in Tameside.

I felt nervous about the idea because I didn’t know what to expect. But Vikki from the centre reassured me and encouraged me to give the sessions a go.

I had no need to worry. Two years on, I’m still going once a week to maintenance sessions. I love it!

We do a variety of things in the group and it’s quite creative. We do art, we make things, play games, chat to each other and get to know each other.

We might be making wind chimes, doing word searches and jigsaw puzzles, playing ping-pong or drawing portraits of each other.

All these activities are new to me. I’ve never been what you would call a creative person but I love our group activities. Because the sessions are so friendly, I feel more comfortable about trying new things.
 

The benefits of CST

There are currently about eight people in the group. Most of them have been going for over 12 months, so we all know each other well and we’re all friends.

We go on trips together – we’ve been for fish and chips in Bolton and we went a see a pantomime at Christmas.

It’s got me doing things at home as well. My husband buys me word search books, jigsaw puzzles and colouring-in books.

I’m a totally different person since I started going there. Everyone has noticed a difference in me.

I would encourage other people to give it a go.

I was nervous at the start but I am a big fan. In fact, I’m about to start helping Vikki to help set up and clean after the sessions. I’ve come a long way.