Introduction into the purpose of mental, cognative stimulation
A little about my mission
I’m Elaine Everett Founder & creator of Motivational Therapy Ltd.
For more than 30 years, I’ve worked at the heart of the care industry, delivering the National award‑winning Motivational Therapy sessions that bring dignity, connection, and meaningful engagement to people living with dementia.
My mission has always been simple: to make life better — for the person being cared for, and for the person doing the caring.
Over the years, countless families reached out to me for guidance when they suddenly found themselves in the role of carer.
They were overwhelmed, unsure where to begin, and often felt alone.
I knew something had to change.
That’s why I created,
The Cognitive Therapy Sessions book — a practical, interactive resource designed to help carers bring mental stimulation, joy, and confidence into everyday life.
I’m on a new journey: expanding Motivational Therapy beyond care homes and into homes everywhere. Whether you’re a family carer, a professional, or someone seeking guidance, you’re in the right place.
You don’t have to navigate dementia alone. I’m here to guide you every step of the way.
Cognative stimulation the why!
The purpose
There are two types of stimulation, mental and physical
Stimulating the brain uses the same theory as the body for exercise.
You must warm up gently and then take things a little bit further into the thought process.
If we go back to the symptom memory loss, we have long term, short term and automatic memory.
We also have logical, reasoning, creative thinking and many others.
For a person living with dementia we have to understand that the thought process for them is a struggle it does not connect or recall information the same as you and I.
It is important to try and keep the brain stimulated to produce endorphins like the body to keep the brain active and a feeling of well-being.
And yes I am going to use my book that I have created to explain, guide and help you do this.
The how?
Delivering cognative therapy to a loved one living with dementia.
Trust the process, the Cognitive Therapy Sessions book format is designed and developed to stimulate the brain.
By keeping the questions to a theme, it enables us to connect to the mind by keeping the person living with dementia on the same train of thought, rather than on random questions where it is difficult for them to recall that information.
The quizzes will be visual using the pad inserts this takes away from being a quiz.
You should always pick sections from the book that you know YLO can do.
Never set them up to fail, but at the same time never underestimate their ability you will be surprised with what they know.
Tips before you start:
Explain what you are about to do in your own words (Exp. We are going to do some exercises and games for the brain to help keep it functioning, if you say quiz they will back off)
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State this will only take 10 to 15 minutes.
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Use their name and have eye contact when you are speaking
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Speak slowly and clearly
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Give praise and encouragement when they are correct.
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Give clues and encouragement when struggling.
Pick a set time and day that you are going to deliver this.
Mornings do seem to be better for the person living with dementia, but it will work anytime of day.
Everyday is good but to keep the consistency in your life 3 times a week on set days is also good.
Remember to have fun!
The process
Three steps for the deliverey of your cognative therapy session
Keep the sessions within the themed sections within the book to encourage the train of thought process.
Time each step for 5 minutes.
It is easy to keep going when you get a good response but the format works and by stretching a section you have the fear of loosing their participation.
Short Sharp and Sweet
STEP ONE:
The warm up section.
This is automatic thinking they will either know or not know the saying it is information stored in the long term memory similar to music, they do not have to think about it.
We use wordsayings for this section, which are colour coded green in each chapter of the book.
STEP TWO:
Using the visual Alpahabet pad in the book.
This starts the thought process. they will have to start to think about the answer.
You don't want to set them up to fail so giving clues to get them to the answer by helping the brain to engage and recall the information.
The visual Alphabet pad quiz allows participation by throwing a coin or dice onto the pad to pick the next question encouranging eye and hand co-ordination.
In each themed chapter of the book there are multipole Alphabet quizes colour coded red for you to choose from.
STEP THREE:
Stretching the thought process further.
Choose a different visual Pad either the Number Pad or the Wheel Pad or a themed quiz.
Choose t suit the dcapability of the person. in each themed section there are varying levels of ability, to suit the person you are delivering to.
Again use clues as encouragement to get them to recall the answer requred.
The Number pad quiz's are colour coded blue and there are 2 to 3 in each section.
The wheel pad quiz are colour coded Purple, these are a little harder there is 1 in each section.
The themed quizzes are colour coded in orange there are 8 sets of quizzes in each section.
Once you have completed a few sessions you will be able to deliver with ease and find subjects that are going to keep YLO stimulated.
There is also a insert of a game that has two values.
The spot game after your session you can do this again for only 5 minutes.
These are spot drop and colour rhyming sequencing.
This helps the brain with sequensing and eye and hand co-ordination.