Cognicare gives your activity team everything they need to deliver structured, person-centred CST sessions, with built-in resident tracking and CQC-ready outcome evidence.
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is the most rigorously evidenced non-pharmacological intervention for people with mild to moderate dementia. It is recommended by NICE and has been shown to improve cognition, quality of life, and communication.
CST is delivered as a structured programme of themed group sessions, run twice weekly over seven weeks. Cognicare is built directly on the CST Manual, giving your activity team the guided structure, resident tracking, and outcome measurement they need to run it with confidence.
CST core principles
Structured activities that engage thinking, memory, and communication, not passive entertainment.
Sessions built around familiar themes, from current affairs to creative activities, in a consistent group format.
Group-based format that reduces isolation and strengthens connections between residents.
Activities adapted to each group's interests, abilities, and dementia severity, so everyone can participate.
Cognicare takes the complexity out of running a CST programme, so your team can focus on the residents, not the paperwork.
Set up resident profiles with dementia severity and key background. Cognicare uses this to tailor activity suggestions for each group.
Schedule your 14-session, 7-week programme. Cognicare guides you through session themes and activity choices aligned to the CST Manual.
Follow on-screen guidance through each session. Record individual resident observations and engagement in real time.
Pre- and post-programme surveys track resident wellbeing changes. CQC-ready reports generated automatically.
Designed with care home activity coordinators, not just for them.
All 14 themed sessions, facilitator guidance, and activity prompts are built in and ready to use.
Track individual engagement across the programme. Capture verbal, physical, and emotional responses during sessions with a simple one-tap scale.
Measure wellbeing and cognitive change across the 14-session programme with structured surveys before and after.
Generate outcome reports showing session frequency, resident participation, and wellbeing changes, formatted for CQC inspections in under 60 seconds.
On-screen prompts coach your team through every session, no specialist training required to run a confident, effective group.
Sessions configured for both mild and moderate dementia severity, so every resident in your group is appropriately supported.
Significant improvements in cognition and quality of life demonstrated in randomised controlled trials, including the landmark Spector et al. study across 23 care homes
Shown to be as effective as several dementia medications for cognitive outcomes, making it a powerful complement to existing treatment plans
Improvements in language, communication, and social engagement, areas that matter deeply to residents, families, and inspectors
Clear, documented evidence of structured, person-centred activity provision, exactly what CQC inspectors look for
Evidence based on Spector et al. (2003), Woods et al. (2012 Cochrane Review), and subsequent published research on the original 14-session CST protocol.
"Cognicare gave our activity team the structure and confidence to run proper CST sessions. Our residents are noticeably more engaged, and our last CQC inspection specifically highlighted the quality of our activity evidence."
Home Manager
UK Care Home
Does my team need CST training to use Cognicare?
No specialist training is required. Cognicare's built-in facilitator guidance and session prompts give your activity coordinators everything they need to run effective CST groups from day one. We do offer CST training for teams who want to deepen their knowledge.
Is Cognicare based on the official CST Manual?
Yes. Cognicare is structured around the CST Manual, all 14 sessions follow the evidence-based themes and principles of the programme as developed by Spector, Orrell, and Woods at University College London.
How does Cognicare help with CQC inspections?
Cognicare automatically generates outcome reports showing session frequency, resident participation, and wellbeing changes across the programme. Inspectors see clear, structured evidence of person-centred, evidence-based activity provision.
How long does a CST programme last?
The standard CST programme is 14 sessions run twice weekly over 7 weeks. Evidence shows that continuing with a maintenance programme after the initial course sustains and extends the benefits for residents.
Is Cognicare suitable for all residents with dementia?
Cognicare supports both mild and moderate dementia severity levels, in line with the CST programme's design. It is not typically appropriate for residents with severe dementia or significant communication difficulties without adaptation.
Book a demo and we'll show you how Cognicare works for your team.