By The Ness Care Group
15 October 2026
Clinically reviewed by Jonathan Hanbury, Founder and Clinical Lead of The Ness Care Group, specialist dementia nurse with more than 20 years’ clinical and senior NHS leadership experience.
Deciding when to start Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) can be difficult, especially if you are still managing everyday life. At The Ness Care Group, our Active Minds sessions support people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild to moderate dementia. You do not need to wait until daily life becomes much harder before finding out what support could help.
Yet taking that first step can feel difficult.
You may be managing at home, enjoying your usual interests and wondering why you would need a group. Perhaps the word dementia brings associations that feel far removed from your life. You might worry about being alongside people with more advanced difficulties and finding the experience upsetting.
These concerns deserve a proper conversation before you make a decision.
We are managing, so why consider support now?
Being able to manage everyday life does not mean there is nothing to gain from support.
You might still go shopping, enjoy walks and see friends, while noticing that following conversations takes more effort. Finding words may be harder, or you may have stopped an activity because you feel less confident.
A suitable therapeutic group offers opportunities to use your thinking skills, contribute ideas and enjoy the company of others.
It is understandable to think, “We’ll look into it when things get worse.” However, group CST is recommended by NICE for people with mild to moderate dementia. It is relevant at a stage when someone may still be independent in many areas of life. [1]
You can explore what is available now without committing to regular attendance.
Will I be with people whose needs are very different from mine?
This can be one of the biggest worries about joining a group.
You may fear that the activities will feel too easy, that you will have little in common with other people, or that attending will confront you with changes you are frightened of.
At The Ness, we begin by understanding the person and considering whether the available group is suitable. We look at their interests, communication, abilities and the support they need to participate.
Before deciding, ask us about the group you would be joining, what happens during a session and how activities are adapted. You are also welcome to discuss a free introductory visit.
A diagnosis alone does not tell us which setting will suit someone. Finding an appropriate group matters.
What if I am uncomfortable with the word dementia?
For some people, the word dementia brings to mind experiences of a relative, distressing images or assumptions about losing independence. It may feel difficult to connect that picture with how you live today.
You can tell us how you feel. You do not need to become comfortable with every aspect of a diagnosis before asking about support.
Our conversations start with you: what you enjoy, what has changed and what you would like help with. We explain the sessions honestly and give you time to ask questions.
Attending Active Minds is a choice about an activity and support that may suit you now. It does not define your identity or predict your individual future.
How are CST sessions different at The Ness?
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy uses structured activities and conversation to engage thinking skills in a supportive social setting.
At The Ness, we build on CST principles through a clinically led approach informed by a more detailed understanding of how different cognitive abilities work.
Jonathan Hanbury, our Founder and Clinical Lead and a specialist dementia nurse, guides this approach. His clinical knowledge informs how sessions are planned and adapted and how we consider changes in participation over time.
This includes attention to:
- Different aspects of memory, such as recalling personal experiences and drawing on knowledge about familiar subjects.
- Language, including finding words, describing something and expressing an opinion.
- Attention, such as following a discussion or staying with an activity.
- Planning and reasoning, including comparing options, organising steps and making decisions.
The purpose is to choose activities thoughtfully and adjust the support around the people taking part.
What does that look like during a session?
A theme such as food could lead to a conversation about favourite meals, describing ingredients or deciding how to organise a menu.
These activities involve different thinking skills. Sharing a food-related experience draws on personal memory. Describing a flavour uses language. Planning a meal involves making choices and putting steps in order.
The team considers how to introduce each activity, what level of challenge is appropriate and how to help someone contribute.
There is room for humour, different opinions and wherever an interesting conversation takes the group. You do not need to revise, prepare answers or be good at quizzes.
Can Cognitive Stimulation Therapy help people with MCI?
The Ness also offers Active Minds sessions to people with mild cognitive impairment, following an individual assessment.
Jonathan considers structured cognitive stimulation valuable for people with MCI. This clinical judgement informs our approach to providing activities that exercise memory and other thinking skills at an appropriate level.
MCI and dementia are different conditions. We discuss the purpose of support for each person, taking account of their circumstances and what they hope to gain.
You do not need a dementia diagnosis to enquire. If you have new or persistent memory concerns, speak to your GP as well as exploring support. Memory problems can have several causes. [3]
When to start Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and what the research says
A 2023 Cochrane review found modest short-term benefits for thinking and memory from cognitive stimulation in people with mild to moderate dementia, alongside clinically relevant improvements in communication and social interaction. Preliminary findings suggested greater cognitive benefits in studies involving people with milder dementia. [2]
This supports exploring suitable therapy while difficulties are mild. It does not mean that people with more advanced difficulties have nothing to gain from appropriate support.
At The Ness, our wider Memory Hub provision supports people with a range of cognitive abilities and care needs. We adapt activities and support to the individual, recognising that the goals may change over time.
Our aim is to help people maintain their abilities, confidence and independence for as long as possible, while supporting participation, enjoyment and wellbeing as their needs change.
You do not have to work this out alone
You do not need to be ready to join a group to speak to us. The Ness offers coaching, advice and guidance for people experiencing memory changes and the family members supporting them.
Whether you have questions after a diagnosis, concerns about everyday life or uncertainty about what to do next, you are welcome to talk things through with our team. We can explain what support is available and help you explore the options that could work for you.
If you are interested in Active Minds or our Memory Hubs, we can also explain the sessions and arrange an introductory visit.
The Ness Care Group provides specialist memory and dementia support through our hubs in Exmouth, Chudleigh, Teignmouth and Kingsteignton, alongside courses in other Devon locations.
Find out about our treatments and therapies or contact The Ness on 01626 774799 or info@nesscaregroup.co.uk.
Sources and further reading
[1] NICE dementia guidance, recommendation 1.4.2 on group CST.
[2] Cochrane review of cognitive stimulation for people with dementia, 2023.
[3] NHS guidance on memory loss.