Table 1

CogStim24 programme overview based on the TIDieR guidelines

What?
Procedures, tailoring and modifications		Why?
Rationale and theory		What?
Materials		How? Where?
Modes ofdelivery		Who?
Intervention provider		When and how much?
Procedures
Staff training: Nursing and care staff receive an 11-week training programme (max. 3 hours/week; cf. (online supplement 3).
CogStim24: Cognitive stimulation exercises that are easy to conduct in daily routine care based on the following techniques:

  • Reality orientation

  • Reminiscence therapy

  • Cognitive training

  • Occupational exercises

  • Multisensory stimulation

  • Music therapy

  • Physical intervention

  • Relaxation


All interactions are based on the principles of patient-centred communication.
Tailoring
Nursing and care staff together with the PwD can choose from the ten exercises for each technique. Difficulty levels are chosen by staff, depending on residents’ abilities.
Modifications
Based on the participatory approach, adjustments in intervention and implementation are possible.		Cognitive stimulation has been shown to have positive effects on global cognition and quality of life. However, many PwD living in nursing homes cannot participate in group-based cognitive stimulation programmes.
Tailoring: Cognitive interventions are most effective when underextensions and overextensions are avoided. That is why two difficulty levels are part of the CogStim24 programme.

  • Manual for nursing and care staff.

  • An ‘activity clock’ indicates all possible activity domains.

  • Material in each resident’s room (eg, booklets with images and resistance bands).

  • If possible, autobiographic information and material relating to the resident will be placed in their rooms (eg, a short CV, pictures and other meaningful items).

Tailoring: All CogStim24 exercises are available in two difficulty levels.		The intervention will be conducted during everyday care in nursing homes, both in resident rooms and other facility areas.
Tailoring: The nursing and care staff can choose the difficulty level based on their own evaluation and experience with the PwD, or if he/she is uncertain, exercises with a lower difficulty level can be used, and if this works fine, the higher difficulty level can be chosen.		Nursing and care staff will be educated on the intervention during the 11 week staff training programme.
Tailoring: Choosing the difficulty level for the CogStim24 exercises will be performed by nursing and care staff.		The intervention is intended conducted in any interaction between PwD and nursing and care staff, if possible. Tailoring: CogStim24 is not conducted or paused if PwD seem too burdened or too exhausted.

  • .PwD, people with dementia; TIDieR, Template for Intervention Description and Replication.