Results from a seven-week pilot conducted by dementia technology provider Brain+ with Surrey and Sussex care provider Southcare Homes Group suggest that Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) delivered by a digital dementia care platform could improve cognitive outcome measures in residents living with dementia.
In the first pilot of its kind, two groups of residents living with mild to moderate dementia took part in twice-weekly sessions of CST delivered via Brain+’s Ayla digital CST assistant.
CST is the leading non-drug dementia therapy recommended by NICE and the World Health Organisation for use in people with mild to moderate dementia, and is clinically proven to improve cognitive function effectively, delaying cognitive decline while improving quality of life, mood, and communication.
While CST is highly effective, it is challenging to deliver at scale due to the 50+ hours of preparation time, specialist staff training, and scheduling demands. According to Brain+, its Ayla platform ‘supports care homes to deliver CST by cutting preparation time in half, integrating into daily routines, and enabling consistent, personalised therapy at scale’.
Results from the seven-week pilot include:
- Overall cognitive outcomes improved by 47.8 per cent.
- Recognition and memory outcomes showed a 56.5 per cent increase.
- Outcomes reflective of planning actions in advance improved by 66.3 per cent.
- Task switching measure improved by 48.3 per cent.
- Communication and understanding outcomes improved by 42.3 per cent.
Southcare Homes proprietor Karim Nanji said: “We were thrilled to be the first UK based care home group to partner with this exceptional team, whose dedication and passion matches ours. Through step by step training, both in person and virtual, our team has been able to learn how best to deliver the Ayla initiative in an effective, caring and person-centred manner.
“We have piloted at two of our homes, with a view to now roll this out to the rest of the Group. All our participating residents & their loved ones have been thoroughly enthused by the results and outcome. This needs to be rolled out nationwide, yesterday!”
Brain+ CEO Devika Wood commented: “This report doesn’t just represent numbers, it represents people, progress, and the tangible difference that innovative dementia care can make every single day. It has been a true privilege to work alongside the Southcare Homes team. The insights we’ve gathered highlight the real value of our product offering: empowering care teams, enhancing the quality of life for residents, and transforming the way dementia care is delivered. The results of this pilot are a testament not only to Southcare Homes’ openness to innovation, but also to the heart and excellence that underpin their work every single day.”
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Matt Seex, Editor
