Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (MCST)
MCST supports the wellbeing and mental stimulation of people living with dementia through group activities.
What's MCST?
Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (MCST) is a weekly one- to two-hour-long programme for people living with mild to moderate dementia.
Group members take part in meaningful and stimulating activities, proven to help maintain memory and mental functioning. The groups provide a fun, supportive environment where people can build new friendships.
Activities include:
- discussions
- word games
- quizzes
- physical activities
- creative and musical activities.
Watch our MCST videos
Watch the videos below to find out more about the impact that MCST has on people living with dementia, as well as their carers and loved ones.
»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Berkshire
Supporting people living with dementia by providing MCST sessions, as well as a supportive space for carers.
»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Tameside
Supporting people in the Gujarati community living with dementia by facilitating translated MCST sessions.
Age Scotland Orkney
Supporting people living with dementia in their communities by facilitating online MCST sessions.
»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Somerset
Supporting people living with dementia in the Taunton area by providing MCST sessions since 2021.
»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Hertfordshire
Supporting people living with dementia in their communities by delivering MCST sessions.
»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Somerset
Supporting people living with dementia in Bridgwater and across Somerset by providing MCST sessions.
Why is MCST so important?
After someone is diagnosed with dementia, they may be offered Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST). This is a short-term programme for people with mild to moderate dementia and usually runs twice weekly for seven weeks following diagnosis.
However once this programme finishes, there’s limited provision of services for people with mild to moderate dementia. MCST is a longer-term programme based in community settings which helps to fill this gap.
Cognitive Stimulation is the only non-drug treatment recommended to improve cognition, independence and well-being by the .
Some things, like crosswords, can be difficult to tackle on your own but together you feel you can do it.
Where can I find an MCST group?
With thanks to generous funding from the Association of British Insurers' COVID-19 Support Fund, MCST programmes have been delivered across the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË, Scotland and Cymru network – including some established virtual MCST groups.
Many local partners are still delivering MCST. Contact your local »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË to find out if they're running sessions.
The Association of British Insurers' funding ran from January 2021-December 2023. Below is a list of all the local partners who took part in that period.
Local partners delivering MCST January 2021-December 2023
Phase 1
- Age Cymru Dyfed
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Berkshire
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Birmingham
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Calderdale and Kirklees
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË County Durham
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Coventry & Warwickshire
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Doncaster
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË East London
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Enfield
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Gateshead
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Hythe and Lyminge
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Lancashire
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Lincoln & South Lincolnshire
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Medway
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Milton Keynes
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË North, South and West Dorset
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË North Yorkshire & Darlington
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Northumberland
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Plymouth
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Salford
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Somerset
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË South Gloucestershire
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Sunderland
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Tameside
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Worcester & Malvern Hills
Phase 2
- Age Scotland Orkney
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Barnsley
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Bexley
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Bournemouth, Poole & East Dorset
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Bristol
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Cheshire East
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Devon
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Faversham and Sittingbourne
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Herefordshire and Worcestershire
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Hertfordshire
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Kensington and Chelsea
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Leeds
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Leicester Shire & Rutland
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Norwich
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Portsmouth
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Reading
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Scarborough and District
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Sheffield
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË South Kent Coast
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Surrey
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Teesside
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Wakefield District
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Westminster
Phase 3
- Age Cymru Dyfed
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Ashford
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Barrow
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Bedfordshire
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Berkshire
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Blackburn with Darwen
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Camden
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Carlisle and Eden
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Cheshire
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË County Durham
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Coventry and Warwickshire
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Gateshead
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Lambeth
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Lancashire
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Milton Keynes
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË North Tyneside
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Northumberland
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Sheppey
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Somerset
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Tameside
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Trafford
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Wandsworth
- »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Wirral
What's the impact of MCST?
»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË's MCST programme was found to have improved or slowed the decline of the cognitive abilities of people living with mild to moderate dementia. It also improved their overall wellbeing.
Over the course of the programme, MCST was found to have a positive impact on clients' lives in a range of ways:
- The QUAL-AD score for clients increased, suggesting an improved quality of life.
- Clients' cognition levels largely remained level over the course of the programme.
- Clients, carers and staff saw a range of improvements in clients' cognition and a range of other behaviours.
MCST programme evaluation report
The evaluation report for the 2021-2023 »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Dementia MCST programme was done by Research Works Ltd.
Pilot programme evaluation report
This report evaluates the MCST pilot programme which ran from 2017-2018. It aimed to provide more services across the country.
I can see the difference in him from when I drop him off to when I pick him up again – he’s so much happier and chatty.
For more information, contact dementiamcst@ageuk.org.uk
We're here to help
We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local »Ê¼Ò»ªÈËs.