how ayla works

One platform. Two tracks. Cognitive care for every resident.

Ayla gives your team two distinct ways to deliver structured cognitive care: evidence-based CST for residents living with dementia, and Cognitive Wellbeing for those outside the clinical pathway.

track one | clinical

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy

For residents living with mild to moderate dementia. Fourteen structured sessions over seven weeks, followed by maintenance sessions for as long as the group continues to benefit.

NICE-recommended CST, delivered to protocol, with outcomes measured throughout.

Cohort.

Diagnosed

frequency

2 x weekly | 14 sessions

group size

Five to eight residents

measures

QoL-AD, SCD-Q, PPOM

track two | cognitive wellbeing

Cognitive Wellbeing

For residents outside the clinical pathway. Structured Cognitive Wellbeing sessions keep minds active and strengthen connection, while helping care teams understand who is taking part, how they engage and what works for them.

Structured cognitive care, designed for participation rather than clinical outcomes.‍

Cohort.

No diagnosis

frequency

Weekly | Ongoing

group size

Flexible

measures

WHO-5, ONS4 - or yours

the clinical foundation

CST isn't a collection of activities. It's a structured therapy.

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy combines themed group activities with a specific set of principles designed to stimulate thinking, encourage conversation and strengthen social connection. Ayla turns that evidence-based structure into something care teams can deliver consistently.

Structured

Fourteen themed sessions follow a defined programme, with each session built around the principles of CST.

Principled

CST uses a consistent set of principles to stimulate thinking, encourage conversation and support every person to contribute.

Delivered with fidelity

Ayla guides facilitators through the structure and captures delivery as it happens, helping homes stay true to the CST model.

Two tracks. Because the distinction matters.

Different purpose

CST is a clinical intervention for residents living with mild to moderate dementia. Cognitive Wellbeing gives residents outside that pathway structured cognitive care.

Different structure

CST follows a defined programme and protocol. Cognitive Wellbeing is flexible and ongoing, designed to become part of everyday life in the home.

Different outcomes

CST measures clinical outcomes. Cognitive Wellbeing captures mood, connection and participation. Keeping them separate means the evidence stays meaningful.

What cst actually is

Structured by the evidence. Designed around the person.

A session might involve word games, music, conversation or current affairs. But underneath it sits a carefully designed structure: the same CST principles, a clear session flow and space for every person to contribute in their own way.

The structure stays consistent. The conversation never has to.

Residents participating in a Cognitive Stimulation Therapy session

CST training for care staff

No clinician needs to be in the room.

Your activity coordinators and care staff deliver the sessions. We train them in a day, then Ayla guides them through everything they need to deliver each session with confidence.

They complete CPD-accredited training as an Ayla Wellbeing Lead & Dementia Therapy Facilitator - equipped to deliver both Ayla tracks.

what the day covers

What CST is - and where its evidence starts and stops

Facilitating a session - group dynamics, prompts, pacing

Delivering the two tracks distinctly and recording each correctly

Capturing outcomes and understanding what each measure supports

After training, a session takes about 5 minutes to configure and get ready to deliver. Everything a facilitator needs is already on the screen.

getting started

Four steps, and the first one takes a day.

Train in a day

One day, on site or online. Your team finishes CPD-accredited and ready to deliver.

Run the programme

Fourteen CST sessions over seven weeks, guided step by step from the screen.

See the outcomes

See cognition, quality of life, mood and participation at resident, group and home level.

Keep going

Continue CST with maintenance sessions, keep Cognitive Wellbeing running across the home, and start the next CST group when you're ready.

Staff discussing the outcomes generated as part of a Cognitive Stimulation Therapy programme.