Books hold a special place in our lives. They transport us to other worlds, introduce us to unforgettable characters, and become woven into our personal histories. For many of us, the joy of reading begins in childhood and continues throughout life, shaping our imagination, knowledge and emotions. As people grow older, or experience cognitive impairment, the ability to read in the same way can sometimes become more difficult. However, the stories themselves are often not lost

March 4th is 'National Dance The Waltz Day', so today's 'CST Song Of The Day' is 'Beautiful Blue Danube' by Johann Strauss 11. Before listening to that piece of classical music, here are some facts about the Waltz ... Here is a video from 'The Sound Of Music' of Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer dancing 'The Laendler', the pre-cursor dance of the waltz ... Next is a dance video of the waltz to the 'Beautiful Blue Danube' ... You could carry on the discussion ... Who likes

Here is my CST Song Of The Day on 'World Wildlife Day', 3rd March (well, it's two songs really), 'The Bare Necessities' & 'I Wanna Be Like You' from the Disney movie 'The Jungle Book', which was based on Rudyward Kipling's 1849 book. After a sing-along, here are some questions to get discussion going ... Who has seen any of the 'African Big Five', either in a zoo or in the wild? Have any members been on a safari, or would they like to go on one? Ask members to list 'The Most

What do members think of domesticated cats? Does anyone have a cat presently, or have they in the past? Or are they more 'dog people'? What are the pros and cons of owning a cat versus a dog? The best song for enjoyment and cognitive stimulation I coud find is 'What's New Pussycat?' by Tom Jones. Do people remember this song? Was it one of Tom Jones's best songs? What do people think of Tom Jones? Is anyone a fan? How many of his other songs can you name? (Maybe play some of

To help celebrate St David's Day, today's CST Song Of The Day is 'Green Green Grass Of Home by Tom Jones. Some questions to help discussions along are provided below.

I put together a YouTube video about the power of personalised music in dementia care, featuring Norrms McNamara's MP3 Players here - https://youtu.be/SVBMc_ziw0Q?si=5UKYXPfrwpalUdjv Here are the elements contained within the video ... I clipped in a video of Henry's story, which provides evidence of the benefits of peronalised music delivered via an MP3 player on his wellbeing - https://youtu.be/8HLEr-zP3fc?si=OpQWjLQZY0QW1ZSe

Ask members what songs they would choose for 'International Polar Bear Day'? Has anyone ever seen one in a zoo, or in the wild? What is the coldest place members have ever been? Ask members to list other animals they might find in the arctic or antarctic? Factoid. Polar Bears are one of only four animals that hunt humans - the others are tigers, leopards & crocodiles. Ask members if polar bears and penguins can happily coexist? (No, Polar Bears live in the North Pole; Penguin

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) has emerged as a powerful tool in enhancing cognitive function, particularly for individuals experiencing memory loss or cognitive decline. One of the most effective methods to engage participants in CST is through music. Music not only stimulates the brain but also evokes emotions and memories, making it a vital component of therapy. In this post, we will explore the top songs that can significantly contribute to the success of Cognitive S

Music has a profound impact on our emotions and mental well-being. It can uplift our spirits, soothe our minds, and even facilitate healing. For those engaged in Craniosacral Therapy (CST), incorporating a carefully curated song playlist can enhance the therapeutic experience. In this blog post, we will explore how music can complement CST, provide a selection of songs that resonate with the therapy's principles, and offer tips on how to effectively integrate music into your

Music has a profound impact on our emotions, memories, and even our cognitive abilities. In recent years, music therapy has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing cognitive function, particularly for individuals facing challenges such as dementia, ADHD, and other cognitive impairments. This blog post explores how music therapy can boost cognitive function, the science behind it, and practical ways to incorporate music into daily life. A cozy room featuring a piano and sheet

National ‘Tell a Fairy Tale Day’ is celebrated annually on February 26th to encourage the sharing, reading, and storytelling of classic fables, myths, and magical tales. It focuses on passing down traditional stories, such as those written by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, to new generations. How to Celebrate: Read or Tell Stories: Revisit classic tales like Cinderella , Little Red Riding Hood , or Jack and the Beanstalk . Visit the virtual Library: Explo

Here is an updated CST activities page to help celebrate St David's Day on 1st March. All of the slides I made are provided here for you to use as you see fit. Don't forget you can take screenshots to make handouts of each round, or if you are a laptop connected to a widescreen TV or projector, click on the first photo to open a rolling slide show. There is a video version of this activity here ... Don't forget to subscribe to my You Tube channel, it really helps the algorith

Hi 👋 everyone Hope you like my new feature. A song of the day for enjoyment and cognitive stimulation. Today is 'Pink Shirt Day', which ia about stopping bullying and encouraging kindness. So the song I chose is 'Lily The Pink' by The Scaffold (their other big hit was 'Thank You Very much'). So the idea is to introduce the theme of the day, play the song & whilst listening ask members to list as many pink things as they can. Here is the video link ... What do you think? Good

Here is a new Dementia Cafe CST activity mainly based on making visual connections and lateral thinking. Hope this activity goes down well with your group, please do let me know ... You could start by discussing ... Who likes fish? Who buys fish at a fishmongers still? What are members' favourite fish dishes? Who has been freshwater or sea fishing? Fish Dishes Ask members to name and comment on these fish dishes ... 👍 or 👎 Cod and chips Fish pie Prawn cocktail Lobster therm

Here is this week's CST activities page - Chinese New Year, which this year is Year Of The Horse. Begin by asking members if they have been to China or elsewhere in the far east? What did they think of the people, the places, the culture, the language and the food? If members have not visited the far east, who would like to? There is a video version of this activity here ... & if you like and use my work you can buy me a coffee here ... Round 1. Idioms Discuss these sayings a

Here are some ideas for planning your cognitive stimulation therapy activities in March 2026. There are previously prepared CST activity pages for many of the events mentioned in my 'Contents' page ... Do let me know if these monthly planners are useful in the 'Comments' section below.

Here is a new Best Ever Valentines Day Movies memory quiz, with lots of music thrown in. All members have to do is look at the photo and the movie quote to try and name that movie. Take time to discuss favourite movies and love stories. Some questions are provided to add another layer of depth & the main songs from the movies are linked. Please let me know if your group liked this one in the comments below. Also a gentle reminder that I am an unpaid content creator without a

If you like my work and use it with your CST activities group you can buy me a coffee here to help towards covering costs (which are about £500 a year) ... buymeacoffee.com/simondementia