Stimulation Activities

Cognitive stimulation aims to intervene in a structured way across the different areas of mental functioning, namely attention, memory, language, perception, visuo-spatial and visuo-constructive skills, praxis (motor skills), reasoning and executive functions (associated with planning, decision-making and judgement). Sessions are delivered individually or through group dynamics, depending on each person's needs and abilities. These activities take place daily, drawing on a battery of proposals developed specifically for CASM, educational games and pencil-and-paper exercises. More than exercises, they create moments of success and interaction that slow decline and keep an active connection with everyday life.

Music therapy is a complementary, evidence-based therapeutic approach that promotes emotional expression, stimulates memory, communication, and psychomotor and sensory functions, supporting physical, psychological and social well-being. Sessions are conducted by a qualified professional and held weekly, both individually and in groups.

Physiotherapy is a health discipline focused on the prevention and rehabilitation of changes in movement and physical function, working to maintain functionality, mobility and to prevent the physical complications that arise as dementia progresses. It directly preserves autonomy and improves quality of life through adapted exercises that stimulate balance, muscular strength and motor coordination — fundamental pillars for fall prevention and maintaining gait. The intervention also focuses on sensory and motor stimulation, helping to maintain body awareness and delay muscular rigidity, promoting well-being and comfort at every stage of dementia.

Psychomotor therapy works on the relationship between body, movement, cognition and emotions, with the aim of preserving functional abilities, promoting autonomy and improving overall well-being. Through adapted bodily activities, it stimulates body schema, balance, coordination and spatial-temporal orientation, as well as attention and perception. The intervention also includes physical components such as strength, endurance, flexibility and agility — always in a functional way and tailored to each person's abilities. The main focus is to maintain or enhance functionality and motor safety, contributing to a safer and more meaningful relationship between the person with dementia and their body, environment and others.

Snoezelen multisensory therapy provides relaxing sensory experiences in controlled environments. It uses elements such as lights, sounds, textures and aromas to encourage sensory exploration and emotional well-being. Through visual, tactile, auditory, olfactory, proprioceptive, vestibular and kinesthetic stimuli, this therapy helps to recover sensations linked to memories, foster body awareness and regulate altered emotional states such as anxiety, apathy and depression, promoting more adaptive behaviour towards the surrounding environment.

Art therapy is an approach that uses creativity and artistic expression to support emotional expression and well-being. Through painting, drawing, collage, modelling and other techniques, each person can explore their imagination, express feelings and communicate symbolically. Sessions are led by a qualified professional and may be individual or in a small group, always adapted to each participant's abilities and interests.

Promoting autonomy is an Occupational Therapy intervention delivered at home, providing close, personalised support within each person’s own environment and daily routines.

Following an assessment of needs and abilities, the intervention works on and stimulates a range of skills, including cognitive, motor and functional skills that are important for everyday activities. It also includes practical training in daily activities, with the aim of maintaining and/or promoting the person’s autonomy and independence.

The home may also be assessed and adapted by identifying difficulties or barriers and introducing strategies to make the space, tasks and routines simpler and safer. These strategies are practised in the person’s own environment to make them easier to use in daily life.

Whenever necessary, family members and caregivers are also given guidance and strategies to support the person’s safety, well-being and quality of life.

This therapy is provided as part of the Dementia Intervention Centre (CAID).

Guided visits to exhibitions in regional museums are organised in collaboration with cultural mediators and the association's technical team, exploring the works in ways accessible to people with dementia. Visits are often complemented by workshop and artistic activities. The approach draws on practices developed by international institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), which runs programmes focused on making art accessible to people with dementia. alza has a partnership with Museu Carlos Machado and also organises visits to Arquipélago — Centro de Artes Contemporâneas and Museu de Lagoa — Açores, among other museums in the region.

Oral tradition and storytelling evoke memories and reconnect people with their personal experiences and community. In partnership with the Public Library and Regional Archive of Ponta Delgada, CASM hosts monthly storytelling sessions led by a professional storyteller. As well as stimulating memory, reasoning and language, these sessions create moments of sharing, engagement and well-being.

Musical moments take place regularly, featuring regional and popular music performed by volunteer musicians and family members, as well as classical music performances. The latter are part of a partnership with the Regional Conservatory of Ponta Delgada and are led by its teachers, in solo or ensemble performances, offering enriching, stimulating and culturally diverse experiences.

Intergenerational exchanges, often held with primary school classes around festive moments or commemorative dates, offer a wonderful opportunity for interaction between children and older adults. These activities take place both at schools and at CASM, creating a welcoming environment for the exchange of knowledge and experiences. Direct interaction between generations challenges prejudices, fosters empathy and mutual respect, and promotes a sense of belonging and purpose.

We regularly organise visits and outings that explore the region's tourist and cultural potential, promoting citizenship, cultural identity and a sense of belonging to the community. These activities are highly inclusive and offer opportunities for personal enrichment, socialising and the development of meaningful interpersonal relationships. They include trips to cafés and esplanades, beach outings, visits to viewpoints, regional product factories, churches and other places of interest.

Outdoor walks — through the neighbourhood, along the seafront or in the city's gardens and parks — bring countless benefits to physical and mental health. They improve motor coordination and balance, regulate the circadian rhythm through exposure to sunlight, support vitamin D absorption and improve cardiorespiratory function. These factors help reduce stress and anxiety, fostering a state of relaxation. Connecting with nature stimulates the senses, making the experience richer and more enjoyable. Regular practice contributes significantly to overall well-being and quality of life.

Marking dates on the calendar promotes spatial-temporal orientation and integration into the community. Celebrating birthdays and significant occasions — including religious, national and international dates — strengthens group identity, citizenship and community involvement.

Spirituality can bring meaning and purpose to life, maintaining the connection with personal values and beliefs and helping to deal with the fear, uncertainty and frustration that accompany the experience of dementia. Recalling religious practices such as prayers and rituals allows the person to recognise themselves in significant moments of their life, offering security and spiritual comfort. Sessions take place weekly, led by volunteer ministers of communion, who distribute the Eucharist and lead moments of prayer and song, creating a dynamic and welcoming group experience. The spiritual dimension is offered openly and inclusively, respecting the diversity of beliefs and individual choices.

Yoga sessions combine physical postures, breathing, meditation, mindfulness and sound vibration, fostering the integration of body, mind and spirit, and supporting physical and emotional well-being. Sessions are held weekly and led by a qualified volunteer instructor.

Artistic activities encourage expression, creativity, the recovery of personal identity and the development of motor skills, providing valuable moments of communication and relaxation. Using a range of techniques and materials such as coloured pencils, pastels, pens, clay and various surfaces, the visual arts create interpretations of reality that give space to individual subjectivity.

Handcrafts promote attention and concentration, draw on intellectual abilities and intentional thinking, develop fine motor coordination, foster imagination and creativity, encourage interpersonal connection and offer relaxation and calm. They also bring a sense of self-satisfaction and self-esteem through the work created.

Whenever appropriate, small moments of involvement in everyday tasks are encouraged, supporting active participation and a sense of usefulness. Simple activities such as setting and clearing the table, tidying materials, hanging or folding clothes, ironing, peeling fruit or helping prepare small recipes naturally arise in the day-to-day life of the Centre. Although they do not constitute a structured activities-of-daily-living training programme, these moments help evoke memories, reinforce personal identity and promote a sense of purpose and belonging.

Beauty and hairdressing services are periodically available at a salon partnered with the association. CASM provides transport and accompanies clients. Small beauty interventions also take place at the Centre. These activities support identity and self-esteem, providing moments of relaxation, well-being and personal valorisation.