Connection, Conversation, and Cognition: A Therapeutic Group Session at Golau Caredig

23rd July 2025📍

At Golau Caredig, we recently delivered a session designed to support the cognitive, emotional, and social wellbeing of older adults in a fun, inclusive environment

🧠 Quiz Time!

The session began with a general knowledge quiz, where residents formed two teams and took part in multiple rounds. The room was filled with laughter, encouragement, and lively conversation. While enjoyable, quiz-based activities also promote working memory, recall, and attention, all of which are vital for cognitive health in older adults. Research shows that mentally stimulating leisure activities — including quizzes and games — are linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia (Yates et al., 2016).

💬 Getting to Know You

Following the quiz, we introduced the “Getting to Know You” ball, a soft ball printed with conversation starters. As each participant caught the ball, they responded to a question that encouraged reminiscence, verbal expression, and interpersonal connection. This helped to build trust, strengthen relationships, and enhance social cohesion within the group. Group engagement fosters a strong sense of social identity, which is associated with improved mental wellbeing, greater resilience, and better cognitive outcomes in older adults (Haslam, Cruwys & Haslam, 2014).

🌟 Looking Ahead

The group remained actively engaged and enthusiastic throughout the session. When asked what they'd like to do next time, the unanimous answer was: Bingo! 🎱

This classic game supports concentration, reaction time, and turn-taking, making it both fun and therapeutic.

🎓 Why This Matters

Evidence-based research supports the use of group activities in dementia care and older adult wellbeing:

• Cognitive stimulation through leisure activities can improve mental function and delay the onset of cognitive impairment (Yates et al., 2016).

• Group-based interaction can reduce loneliness, boost mood, and support cognitive health by reinforcing social identity and belonging (Haslam et al., 2014).

  
  

📚 References

Haslam, C., Cruwys, T. and Haslam, S.A., 2014. The we’s have it: Evidence for the distinctive benefits of group engagement in enhancing cognitive health in aging. Social Science & Medicine, 120, pp.57–66.

Yates, L.A., Ziser, S., Spector, A. and Orrell, M., 2016. Cognitive leisure activities and future risk of cognitive impairment and dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis. International Psychogeriatrics, 28(11), pp.1791–1806.