AQW 49384/22-27
Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 23/06/2026
Answered On Date: 22/07/2026
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any guidance his Department provides to care homes and other residential settings on the provision of meaningful activities and cognitive stimulation for people living with dementia.
Answer:
Meaningful activities and cognitive stimulation are crucial for people living with dementia because they support not just memory, but also emotional wellbeing, identity, and quality of life. My Department’s expectations regarding meaningful activities and cognitive stimulation in care homes are primarily set through the Department of Health (NI) Minimum Standards for Residential Care and Minimum Standards for Nursing Homes 2026 and enforced through inspection and regulation by the Regulated Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA). The standards include provision of meaningful activities tailored to residents. The RQIA inspection process will include the review of documentation, observation of practice and interaction with residents. As HSC Trusts commission placements and monitor contract compliance, they are required to seek assurance that nursing homes are providing person-centred care plans, with opportunities for social interaction and meaningful engagement and activities tailored to residents' interests, abilities and life histories. Trust monitoring visits, reviews and contract management processes may look at activity programmes, resident feedback, care records and evidence that engagement is meaningful rather than simply task-based.
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