Why I Created The Connect Method®
After 25 years working in rehabilitation, I saw the same problem over and over. People are being given lots of information, but very little practical guidance on what to do or what can help.
The Connect Method® was developed to bridge that gap.
It translates complex research into simple, practical strategies that families can use in everyday life. It helps people understand what is changing, what they can influence, and how to continue living well with dementia.
The Heart of Our Approach is Connection
With Family and Friends
With Self and Abilities
With Healthcare Staff
Neural Connections in the Brain
The Connect Method® is a framework developed by Amanda Burnby, combining Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, neuro-rehabilitation principles, , and more than 25 years of experience.
Amanda explains everything in simple language, using real world scenarios to provide clear, practical guidance.
Cognitive Stimulation
Neurorehabilitation Principles
Relationship-Centred Approaches
"No one explained things the way you did.
Everything finally made sense."
Research Shows:
The brain can still learn, adapt, and respond, even when dementia becomes a part of life.¹
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy supports thinking, communication, and quality of life.²
How we engage with a person can influence confidence, connection and wellbeing.³
Evidence Behind The Connect Method®
CST is an evidence-based, non-pharmacological intervention recommended within international dementia care guidelines and provided in 40+ countries.²
CST targets thinking skills commonly affected by dementia, including communication, attention, memory, planning, and problem solving.²
Neurorehabilitation principles recognise that meaningful, repetitive practice can promote brain function, adaptation and participation. ⁶
Research has demonstrated benefits of cognitive stimulation across cognition, communication, social interaction and quality of life.⁷
Home-based cognitive stimulation research has reported benefits for family confidence, wellbeing and positive shared experiences at home.⁸
Reference List:
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Desai, R., Leung, W. G., Fearn, C., John, A., Stott, J., & Spector, A. (2024). Effectiveness of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) for mild to moderate dementia: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of randomised control trials using the original CST protocol. Ageing research reviews, 97, 102312. Retrieved June 19, 2026, from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2024.102312
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Puderbaugh, M., & Emmady, P. D. (2026). Neuroplasticity. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved June 19, 2026, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557811/
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Kitwood, T. (1997). Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First. Open University Press.
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Thoft, D. S., Grarup, B., & Mortensen, A. (2025). A scoping review of the effect and experience of participating in dementia rehabilitation when living with early stage dementia. Western Journal of Nursing Research
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Paggetti, A., Druda, Y., Sciancalepore, F., Della Gatta, F., Ancidoni, A., Locuratolo, N., Piscopo, P., Vignatelli, L., Sagliocca, L., Guaita, A., Secreto, P., Stracciari, A., Caffarra, P., Vanacore, N., Fabrizi, E., Lacorte, E., Caffarra, P., Guaita, A., Secreto, P., … Porrello, M. C. (2025). The efficacy of cognitive stimulation, cognitive training, and cognitive rehabilitation for people living with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. GeroScience: Official Journal of the American Aging Association (AGE), 47(1), 409–444. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-024-01400-z
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Jiménez-Palomares, M., Montero-Barrero, O., Garrido-Ardila, E. M., Gibello-Rufo, A., González-Sánchez, B., & Rodríguez-Mansilla, J. (2025). Cognitive Stimulation in Older Adults with Dementia: A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(20), 7225. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14207225