GREAT Cognitive Rehabilitation

Person-centred. The focus and scope of GREAT CR depends on the circumstances of the person with dementia and the difficulties experienced. The GREAT CR plan is developed through discussion between the CR Practitioner, the person with dementia and, where available, family/care supporters.

Individual. The work takes place on a one-to-one basis.

Goal-oriented. GREAT CR is built around individual CR goals. Goals are brief statements about the improvement the person aims to achieve in particular abilities or activities. They relate to personally meaningful activities – things that the person feels would make a difference to his/her quality of life. Goals tend to describe observable, measureable behaviour rather than feelings. The individual goals give the person a positive focus, inspire motivation and help to direct efforts towards relevant activities.

Flexible. The number of sessions and the exact techniques to be used with the person are not rigidly specified. The CR Practitioner can plan a course of GREAT CR depending on the person’s needs.

Solution-focused. GREAT CR uses creative problem-solving to find the best ways to overcome or by-pass specific challenges of living with dementia. The CR Practitioner involves the person with dementia and family/care supporters in the process so that they develop skills in finding solutions and can apply these in other situations.

Built on compensation and enhanced learning techniques. CR practitioners help the person to achieve personal goals through developing strategies that compensate for cognitive problems and introducing enhanced learning techniques that help the person make the most of remaining cognitive abilities.

Ecologically valid. With practical goals addressed in a person’s home setting, GREAT CR is relevant for everyday functioning and translates directly into observable benefits.

Evidence-based. The programme builds on decades of clinical research.