Cognitive Stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.

NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.

Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.

NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.

Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.

NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.

Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.

Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.

NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;

the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;

the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;

designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;

the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;

designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;

the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;

adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;

designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;

the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;

adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;

designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;

the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;

filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;

adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;

designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;

the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

variety in groups and social supports,

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

variety in groups and social supports,

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);

variety in groups and social supports,

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);

variety in groups and social supports,

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

level of performance in ADLs,

level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);

variety in groups and social supports,

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

level of performance in ADLs,

level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);

variety in groups and social supports,

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

identification of goals,

level of performance in ADLs,

level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);

variety in groups and social supports,

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

identification of goals,

level of performance in ADLs,

level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);

variety in groups and social supports,

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

organization and satisfaction with routines,

identification of goals,

level of performance in ADLs,

level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);

variety in groups and social supports,

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

organization and satisfaction with routines,

identification of goals,

level of performance in ADLs,

level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);

variety in groups and social supports,

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

prior activity,

organization and satisfaction with routines,

identification of goals,

level of performance in ADLs,

level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);

variety in groups and social supports,

maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,

emotional well-being,

presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

delaying disease-associated decline,

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

delaying disease-associated decline,

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.

delaying disease-associated decline,

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.

delaying disease-associated decline,

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

emotional state,

promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.

delaying disease-associated decline,

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

emotional state,

promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.

delaying disease-associated decline,

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

volitional components,

emotional state,

promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.

delaying disease-associated decline,

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

volitional components,

emotional state,

promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.

delaying disease-associated decline,

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),

volitional components,

emotional state,

promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.

delaying disease-associated decline,

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),

volitional components,

emotional state,

promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.

delaying disease-associated decline,

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

QoL,

autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),

volitional components,

emotional state,

promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.

delaying disease-associated decline,

reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,

reducing the economic cost of treatment,

postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

1 music therapist,

4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

1 music therapist,

4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

8 occupational therapists,

1 music therapist,

4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

8 occupational therapists,

1 music therapist,

4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

3 psychologists,

8 occupational therapists,

1 music therapist,

4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

3 psychologists,

8 occupational therapists,

1 music therapist,

4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

3 social workers,

3 psychologists,

8 occupational therapists,

1 music therapist,

4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

• 3 social workers,
• 3 psychologists,
• 8 occupational therapists,
• 1 music therapist,
• 4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

• 3 social workers,
• 3 psychologists,
• 8 occupational therapists,
• 1 music therapist,
• 4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

environment-first, where contextual factors are prioritized ahead of personal ones.

Translating these visions, often linked to professional preferences, service-centered planning, ideas pre-established years ago, and personal beliefs not based on current knowledge, represents a challenge to be able to coexist in the same work environment.

The AFA Rioja team

The interdisciplinary professional team at AFA Rioja currently includes:

• 3 social workers,
• 3 psychologists,
• 8 occupational therapists,
• 1 music therapist,
• 4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

Top-down (top-down), where meaningful activities and people’s life roles become relevant;

environment-first, where contextual factors are prioritized ahead of personal ones.

Translating these visions, often linked to professional preferences, service-centered planning, ideas pre-established years ago, and personal beliefs not based on current knowledge, represents a challenge to be able to coexist in the same work environment.

The AFA Rioja team

The interdisciplinary professional team at AFA Rioja currently includes:

• 3 social workers,
• 3 psychologists,
• 8 occupational therapists,
• 1 music therapist,
• 4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

Top-down (top-down), where meaningful activities and people’s life roles become relevant;

environment-first, where contextual factors are prioritized ahead of personal ones.

Translating these visions, often linked to professional preferences, service-centered planning, ideas pre-established years ago, and personal beliefs not based on current knowledge, represents a challenge to be able to coexist in the same work environment.

The AFA Rioja team

The interdisciplinary professional team at AFA Rioja currently includes:

• 3 social workers,
• 3 psychologists,
• 8 occupational therapists,
• 1 music therapist,
• 4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

Bottom-up (bottom-up), where the focus of work is on the capacities affected by the disease;

Top-down (top-down), where meaningful activities and people’s life roles become relevant;

environment-first, where contextual factors are prioritized ahead of personal ones.

Translating these visions, often linked to professional preferences, service-centered planning, ideas pre-established years ago, and personal beliefs not based on current knowledge, represents a challenge to be able to coexist in the same work environment.

The AFA Rioja team

The interdisciplinary professional team at AFA Rioja currently includes:

• 3 social workers,
• 3 psychologists,
• 8 occupational therapists,
• 1 music therapist,
• 4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

• Bottom-up (bottom-up), where the focus of work is on the capacities affected by the disease;
• Top-down (top-down), where meaningful activities and people’s life roles become relevant;
• environment-first, where contextual factors are prioritized ahead of personal ones.

Translating these visions, often linked to professional preferences, service-centered planning, ideas pre-established years ago, and personal beliefs not based on current knowledge, represents a challenge to be able to coexist in the same work environment.

The AFA Rioja team

The interdisciplinary professional team at AFA Rioja currently includes:

• 3 social workers,
• 3 psychologists,
• 8 occupational therapists,
• 1 music therapist,
• 4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

• Bottom-up (bottom-up), where the focus of work is on the capacities affected by the disease;
• Top-down (top-down), where meaningful activities and people’s life roles become relevant;
• environment-first, where contextual factors are prioritized ahead of personal ones.

Translating these visions, often linked to professional preferences, service-centered planning, ideas pre-established years ago, and personal beliefs not based on current knowledge, represents a challenge to be able to coexist in the same work environment.

The AFA Rioja team

The interdisciplinary professional team at AFA Rioja currently includes:

• 3 social workers,
• 3 psychologists,
• 8 occupational therapists,
• 1 music therapist,
• 4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP

With more than 11 years of experience at the Association of Relatives and People with Alzheimer’s of La Rioja, occupational therapist Aitor Piñeiro Gago shares his experience applying cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP.

About AFA Rioja

The Association of Relatives and People with Alzheimer’s of La Rioja (AFA Rioja) was created in 1993 with the purpose of offering a center with a set of its own services, which relatives of people with Alzheimer’s could access in the absence of specialized resources in the social-health system. The objective is to provide a response to the needs arising from both the relatives and the affected persons.

Over the years, AFA Rioja has grown as evidenced by the annual data related to the number of professionals hired, the beneficiary people (approximately 180) and their families, as well as the diversification and specialization of the different programs included in its service portfolio.

AFA Rioja’s objective

Among the objectives established by the Association, it aims to reach and maintain the highest level of quality of life (QoL) in the dyad of the person with Alzheimer’s and the caregiver (in the majority of cases, as the literature reports, the spouse). All of this from an integral, individualized, cooperative, responsible and ethical perspective, in line with the Association’s values and our positioning regarding society, families and people.

AFA Rioja’s vision

The vision plays a very important role in establishing methods of work, actions and proposals to develop.

Based on existing publications, we can start from an approach of:

• Bottom-up (bottom-up), where the focus of work is on the capacities affected by the disease;
• Top-down (top-down), where meaningful activities and people’s life roles become relevant;
• environment-first, where contextual factors are prioritized ahead of personal ones.

Translating these visions, often linked to professional preferences, service-centered planning, ideas pre-established years ago, and personal beliefs not based on current knowledge, represents a challenge to be able to coexist in the same work environment.

The AFA Rioja team

The interdisciplinary professional team at AFA Rioja currently includes:

• 3 social workers,
• 3 psychologists,
• 8 occupational therapists,
• 1 music therapist,
• 4 assistants.

Organized in two physical centers located in the city of Logroño, places where psychosocial interventions or non-pharmacological therapies (NPTs) are carried out and where people residing in the capital of La Rioja and nearby municipalities attend.

NPTs at AFA Rioja

The first experiences of NPTs in people with Alzheimer’s, of which there is record, date back to the 1950s-1960s, although the knowledge generated and acquired over the last decades has grown exponentially. Studies, experiences, research and institutions endorse the effectiveness and results implicit in a variety of areas through their administration, even at levels similar to pharmacological therapies.

The benefits of NPTs

Therefore, NPTs are considered as important as pharmacological treatment, where both, prescribed in a coordinated and appropriate manner, can multiply the benefits obtained for each person in aspects such as:

• QoL,
• autonomous and independent performance in activities of daily living (ADLs),
• volitional components,
• emotional state,
• promotion and maintenance of functional and healthy behaviors.
• delaying disease-associated decline,
• reducing dependence on drugs, third parties and services,
• reducing the economic cost of treatment,
• postponing the time of institutionalization in residential centers.

The results of NPTs

The reported results from the implementation of NPTs increase year by year according to numerous experiences and the growing interest in the matter. Although it is equally necessary to have the support of research to determine the outcomes, level of effectiveness and possibilities of reapplicability in order to reach degrees of recommendation.

The people who attend the center

People come to the Association who, despite having the same medical diagnosis, have heterogeneous characteristics, in terms of the level of:

• prior activity,
• organization and satisfaction with routines,
• identification of goals,
• level of performance in ADLs,
• level of function / dysfunction in individual capacities (sensory, cognitive, physical, communicative and interactive);
• variety in groups and social supports,
• maintenance or loss of meaningful roles,
• emotional well-being,
• presence of other pathologies.

In practice, this represents a set of needs to be covered by the different NPTs according to the object of their nature. From those of a normative nature established by professionals, who indicate what results are expected and what services are necessary to achieve them, to perceived or experienced needs, those based on each person or group’s perception of a particular shortcoming, based on a subjective appreciation (Bradshaw, 1972).

Development of opportunities

Creating and developing opportunities that cover as many resulting needs as possible, as well as guaranteeing the control of variables and measuring their effect on a set of individual factors, becomes a professional and organizational responsibility.

These opportunities must be provided in a coordinated, individualized way, from a holistic perspective; they must be dynamic, flexible and with goals that can be reviewed over time, these being some of the characteristics that this type of interventions must meet.

Hence, proposals are as varied as life histories, interests, preferences, concerns and goals identified in the population and individual analysis that must be carried out periodically.

Interventions such as magic, cooking, animals, art and culture, sport, music, books, life projects and occupational meaning are just some of the interventions that complement programs for stimulating individual capacities.

Interventions that are developed taking into account the environments (professionalized, community, indoor, outdoors…); the number of people (individual, in pairs, small groups of 3 to 5 people, and groups of up to 9 people); their nature (self-care, life roles, or leisure and free time); expected results (according to perceived benefit, enjoyment and pleasure); and development methodology (self-managed, interactive, with professional support).

The objective

The priority objective is to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of quality of life according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. Therefore, the commitment and assignment of an individualized life plan and supports by the people and professionals starts from an initial evaluation process that lasts several months. The moment when one process ends and another begins becomes almost imperceptible, being cyclical, continuous and subject to the appropriate changes to improve the person’s experience, satisfaction and well-being.

Collecting, pouring and interpreting the information obtained from the different available sources through quantitative and qualitative systems, from a multidisciplinary perspective, makes it possible to reflect it in the individualized therapeutic process appropriate for each person and each moment.

Cognitive stimulation

Historically, cognitive intervention has been postulated as one of the most widespread and accepted non-pharmacological treatments in the care of the person with Alzheimer’s.

There are multiple studies (one could say that cognitive interventions are the set of NPTs that enjoy the highest number of publications and evidence) that support the benefits of their application, with the level and magnitude of those benefits varying depending on the methodology used and the clinical stage of the disease, as well as other associated individual factors (motivation, cognitive reserve, sensory limitation, level and type of prior activity, for example).

Changes in cognitive stimulation

Given that the greatest recommendation is obtained by multicomponent cognitive interventions, the variety of their application has become an exercise in creativity and innovation subject to emerging demands, new interests and concerns implicit in the beneficiary population.

And indeed, according to the vision, principles and foundations that guide professional practice and determine the type of interventions to be developed, the spectrum of methodological and format possibilities in the design of sessions of an eminently cognitive nature has widened.

Leaving behind the exclusive use of the well-known “pen and paper”” from which so much content has been generated in recent decades, to base cognitive interventions on people’s preferences and strengths, from an occupational perspective that gives meaning to new methodologies and work formats in sessions. Any occupation implicitly involves a series of cognitive capacities (among others) for its effective and functional performance, so stimulating one (or several) cognitive capacities directly allows going further and linking it to the emotion and the meaning that each person gives to the meaningful occupation.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja

At the center, people’s preferences toward specific types of intervention are prioritized, taking into account their individual capacities, not only in the cognitive domain, but also from a social perspective, adapting the characteristics of the sessions and the content to be developed according to the established objectives.

Cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP

For 8 years, NeuronUP has become a fundamental working tool for designing cognitive interventions in the Association, which combined with other content allows obtaining sessions that are varied, novel and of growing interest to the participating population.

The advantages of carrying out cognitive stimulation with NeuronUP

During this time, there are several advantages that the center professionals have identified regarding the NeuronUP platform and that, when properly managed, directly impact the achievement of individual therapeutic objectives.

From our experience, and without diminishing the value of other existing options, we name those that we consider most relevant (and that we use most frequently) in our work of designing and implementing sessions:

• Quantity and variety of content according to abilities and areas of occupation. Not forgetting the number of extra resources available that are very useful for creating sessions or original exercises in interventions with another work format;
• filters available: age and type of exercises. It is important that their presentation matches the target population, making a format attractive and as representative as possible of everyday life. In the same way, it allows the person to have access and approach to the world of new technologies from a playful and pleasant variant that directly impacts health status;
• adjustment of exercise parameters. Allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted across a wide range, as well as their duration in time and number of repetitions;
• designing sessions in advance prevents leaving the exercises, searching for new ones and starting them, with the implicit detriment that this would entail in the flow and continuity of the sessions. The possibility to edit sessions according to obtained results is very positive to optimize benefits and facilitate the therapists’ preparation work;
• the baseline proposal of the exercises and sessions allows the therapist to adjust them to the characteristics of the person and the group, introducing motivating and management elements derived from this, which allow for maximum individualization. For example, according to levels of participation among group members: more energetic, more passive…, or with inhibition difficulties in turn-taking response exercises. Thus achieving the highest degree of balance and benefit among all participants.

Conclusion

• Applying an NPT should not become a trivial matter within organizational routines that provide services impacting people’s overall health.
• Adapting these therapies to individual needs should be the logical order of the process, and not wait for the person to adapt to existing resources. And if they are not available, create them.
• Professionals must be coherent between what is done and said regarding new paradigms and care approaches and the services available in centers. Taking into account (and sharing) people-centered ethical principles that guide the actions to be developed, reflecting this vision and philosophy in the type of programs and processes of evaluation, design and implementation of them.
• NeuronUP allows expanding the range of available working tools at the service of the target people, complementing existing ones, to guarantee those principles.

If you liked this article about cognitive stimulation at AFA Rioja with NeuronUP, you may also be interested in the following posts:

“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Estimulación cognitiva en AFA Rioja con NeuronUP