The Ness Care Group

05/01/2026

Thank you to everyone who has attended the carer support sessions at our Chudleigh Hub in 2025.

The sessions are designed to offer peer support and a safe space to talk about the day to day realities of caring for a loved one with dementia, alongside others in similar situations.

We are pleased to confirm that the carer support sessions will continue on the first Wednesday of each month, starting this Wednesday, 7 January.

🕙 10:00am to 12:00 noon
📍 Bellever Room, Chudleigh Hub

If you are caring for someone with dementia and would find it helpful to attend, you are very welcome and we look forward to seeing you.

05/01/2026

Please share with anyone who you feel may benefit.

Worrying about memory can feel unsettling, especially when changes are gradual rather than sudden.

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy focuses on what people can still do. Through regular, structured sessions, it supports thinking, communication and confidence in a calm, supportive group setting.

People who take part often describe meaningful changes over time, such as feeling more confident in conversation, more motivated to join in and more mentally alert.

Our 10 week Cognitive Stimulation Therapy course will run in Totnes.

📍 Rushbrook Centre, Totnes
🗓 Wednesdays from 7 January
⏰ 2pm to 4pm

CST is recommended by the NHS for people experiencing memory changes or early stage dementia and is delivered by trained facilitators.

02/01/2026

Worrying about memory can feel unsettling, especially when changes are gradual rather than sudden.

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy focuses on what people can still do. Through regular, structured sessions, it supports thinking, communication and confidence in a calm, supportive group setting.

People who take part often describe meaningful changes over time, such as feeling more confident in conversation, more motivated to join in and more mentally alert.

Our 10 week Cognitive Stimulation Therapy course will run in Totnes.

📍 Rushbrook Centre, Totnes
🗓 Wednesdays from 7 January
⏰ 2pm to 4pm

CST is recommended by the NHS for people experiencing memory changes or early stage dementia and is delivered by trained facilitators.

30/12/2025

People don’t always notice memory changes straight away.

It’s often small things. Conversation takes more effort, finding words takes longer, or joining in feels harder than it used to.

In January, we’re starting a 10 week Cognitive Stimulation Therapy course in Totnes. It’s a weekly group, small and structured, using conversation and themed activities to keep the brain active and engaged.

📍 Rushbrook Centre, Totnes
🗓 Starts Wednesday 7 January
⏰ 2pm to 4pm

CST is recommended by the NHS for people experiencing memory changes or in the early stages of dementia.

If you’d like to ask a few questions about whether this could help, or what the costs are, just get in touch.

25/12/2025

As the year comes to a close, we’re sending warm wishes to everyone in our community. We wish you a restful Christmas period and a positive, healthy New Year.

Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and dedication to supporting people living with dementia and cognitive change.

24/12/2025

Christmas can feel overwhelming for someone living with dementia, but small, thoughtful adjustments can make it calmer and more enjoyable for everyone involved.

🎄 Keep routines steady
Familiar mealtimes, favourite TV shows and regular rest help reduce anxiety.

🎄 Choose smaller gatherings
Short visits or one or two guests at a time are often easier. For larger get-togethers, a quiet room can really help.

🎄 Create a calm space
A cosy corner or spare room gives somewhere to step away and reset when things feel too much.

🎄 Bring memories in gently
Photo albums, favourite carols or familiar scents like orange or cinnamon can be comforting. If something causes distress, there is no need to push it.

🎄 Keep communication simple
Slow, warm and patient. One idea at a time. Connection matters more than perfect conversation.

🎄 Offer food and drink thoughtfully
Smaller portions can be easier, and alcohol may increase confusion. A warm, festive non-alcoholic drink can be a comforting alternative.

🎄 Accept emotions without judgement
Tears, confusion or frustration may happen. It is not their fault and it is not yours.

Sometimes, the kindest Christmas is simply a calmer one.

23/12/2025

Festive moments can be more than just celebration. They can also support cognitive health.

At our Teignmouth hub, festivities have been in full swing, with activities designed to encourage gentle mental stimulation, social connection, and routine.

For people experiencing cognitive change, meaningful engagement like conversation, music, shared tasks, and familiar traditions can help maintain thinking skills and emotional wellbeing, especially during busy seasonal periods.

Thanks also to Lily Warne Wool

19/12/2025

Our festive opening hours 🌟

As we approach Christmas and the New Year, our team will be taking some time for rest and reflection.

Please make a note of our adjusted opening times over the festive period if you are planning to visit or contact us.

Wishing you and your loved ones a warm, peaceful and happy Christmas, and a positive start to the new year ahead.

18/12/2025

Our Teignmouth hub is feeling festive.

From Dolly Parton carols and the Teign Singers to a cabaret session and school visits, there is plenty to look forward to this month. 🎶🎄

17/12/2025

Christmas can be a difficult time for someone living with dementia.

Changes in routine, busy and noisy environments, flashing lights and large gatherings can all increase confusion, anxiety and sensory overload.

👉 Visit our website to learn how to support someone with dementia this Christmas.

Learn more here: https://nesscaregroup.co.uk/2025/12/01/dementia-care-at-christmas-how-to-support-someone-with-dement…

09/12/2025

Seeing confidence grow session by session is what makes our work so rewarding.

Thank you to the families who trust us to support their loved ones.

Small steps can make the biggest difference.

Find out how we can support you or someone you care for: https://nesscaregroup.co.uk/services/the-family-informal-carer/

08/12/2025

When the whole Ness team meets up, you see just how much experience we hold across all of our hubs.

Last week we all came together for a full training day. It was a rare chance to pause as a group, share what we are seeing day to day and learn from each other so we keep improving the way we work.

We mapped out our plans for 2025 into 2026 and Jonathan took us through recent dementia studies and emerging evidence that will guide how we work next year.

We also reviewed our clinical scoring system to make sure we can give clear, up to date information on each person’s progress, explored a new software tool we are trialling, looked at what makes a cognitive session genuinely effective and spent time on restlessness because it is something all hubs manage regularly.

To finish, an external practitioner ran a short session on breathing techniques so we have another practical option for people who find anxiety hard to manage.

A focused day that strengthens how we work with families and the people we support.