Engaging Dementia

What Engaging Dementia does

Engaging Dementia is an Irish registered charity founded in 1990 by Sister Mary Threadgold, focused on dementia care education, training, and community engagement. The organization develops and disseminates evidence-based programs, most notably the Sonas Programme (a multi-sensory therapeutic intervention for people with dementia, which marked its 35th anniversary in 2025) and P-CAD (Person-Centred Dementia Care), licensing and certifying practitioners to deliver them. Its product catalog spans training manuals and activity materials (books priced €7.50–€50.50), multimedia resources (CDs/DVDs €17–€122), and certification kits (Sonas Kit at €110, P-CAD €61.50–€306.50). It also operates a national Dementia Café Network of more than 60 community locations across Ireland and runs an annual international conference now in its 17th year.

Name

Engaging Dementia

Legal name

Engaging Dementia

Website

https://engagingdementia.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Engaging Dementia is an Irish charity that develops and delivers evidence-based dementia care programs, training, and products to caregivers, healthcare providers, and community groups across Ireland, operating a 60+ location Dementia Café Network and an annual international conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dementia Care Training & Education

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cognitive Stimulation & Reminiscence Therapy (Non-Clinical) (HSABAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts, Culture & Creative Learning for Seniors (Music, writing, crafts) (EDAAAMAI)

Keywords

• Dementia care training
• Dementia education resources
• Therapeutic activity programmes
• Dementia support services
• Community dementia cafes

Headquarters

HQ city

Co. Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Courses: Accredited evidence-based dementia training courses for healthcare professionals and family carers, available both online and in-person. Includes Sonas Programme training, Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, Communication Partner Training, and specialist workshops.
2. Product Sales: Sale of educational resources including books, CDs, DVDs, and the Sonas Programme Kit. Products support dementia care education and therapeutic activities.
3. International Dementia Conference: Annual conference revenue from registrations, attracting healthcare professionals, researchers, and family carers from Ireland and internationally.
4. Donations: Charitable donations from supporters directly funding community initiatives and dementia-inclusive projects across Ireland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Engaging Dementia is an Irish registered charity that delivers accredited evidence-based dementia training courses to healthcare professionals and caregivers, sells educational resources (books, CDs, DVDs, activity kits), runs the Sonas Programme — a therapeutic multi-sensory activity programme for people with dementia — and coordinates the Irish Dementia Cafe Network of 60+ community cafés alongside an annual International Dementia Conference.

Product overview

Engaging Dementia is an Irish charity offering a comprehensive portfolio of dementia care products and services, primarily focused on training and education. The core offerings include the Sonas Programme (evidence-based therapeutic activity training) and Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) workshops as flagship training courses. The organisation provides specialist courses covering communication partner training, memory rehabilitation, dementia-inclusive gardening, and late-stage dementia care. Beyond training, Engaging Dementia sells educational resources including CST Manuals (Volumes 1-3), books on various dementia topics (Lewy Body Dementia, Montessori approaches, end-of-life care), audio products (Ciúnas CD/DVD, Serenity Box Set), and the Sonas Programme Kit. The organisation also operates the Irish Dementia Cafe Network (supporting 60+ cafes nationwide) and hosts Ireland's foremost International Dementia Conference annually. Certified Sonas Provider certification is offered to care settings demonstrating consistent programme delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sonas Programme: An evidence-based therapeutic activity designed to support communication and engagement for people living with dementia.
• Irish Dementia Cafe Network

Products and services

• The Sonas Programme A therapeutic multi-sensory activity programme specifically designed for people with dementia. It is the charity's flagship evidence-based offering, delivered to care settings and used by trained facilitators to engage people living with dementia through structured multi-sensory sessions.
• Accredited Dementia Training Courses Accredited, evidence-based training courses delivered to healthcare professionals, caregivers, and care staff working with people with dementia. The courses credential learners in recognised dementia care practices and the Sonas Programme methodology.
• Educational Resources (Books, CDs, DVDs, Kits) A catalogue of educational resources — including books, CDs, DVDs, and activity kits — sold to caregivers, families, and professionals to support understanding of dementia and engagement with people living with the condition.
• Irish Dementia Cafe Network A nationwide network of 60+ community dementia cafés across Ireland, providing social and peer-support environments for people with dementia and their families, and serving as a community engagement channel for the charity.
• Annual International Dementia Conference An annual international conference convened by Engaging Dementia that brings together practitioners, researchers, and caregivers working in the dementia field for knowledge exchange and professional development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35+ years serving communities and training professional caregivers annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2026Engaging Dementia announced as one of four Official GAA Charity Partners for 2026 at an event at Croke Park with Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns. Partnership aims to expand the Irish Dementia Cafe Network and bring Dementia Cafes to communities across Ireland, leveraging the GAA's community presence.
• HSE Dementia: Understand Together CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaging Dementia is a partner of the HSE's Dementia Understand Together Campaign, Ireland's public support, awareness and information campaign for dementia. Collaboration includes the Gardening Together booklet created with HSE.
• The Access GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity Partner for 2026 providing continued assistance and support to Engaging Dementia.
• DovidacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting and sponsoring the International Dementia Conference as a key supporter.
• HSE (Health Service Executive)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing support from Ireland's health service executive for dementia care initiatives and training.
• The Maples GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal advice and guidance for Engaging Dementia.
• Axa InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAxa Insurance and the Community Foundation provided assistance with the Dementia-Inclusive Gardens Project.
• Kerry GAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced a dementia-inclusive booklet in collaboration with Dementia Friendly Tralee and HSE. Latest in a series of initiatives to raise awareness of dementia and make GAA clubs and grounds more inclusive.
• Dementia Friendly TraleeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Kerry GAA and HSE on producing the dementia-inclusive booklet for Tralee.
• Music & Health IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Music in Good Company summer concert series for people living with dementia, their caregivers, families, and friends.
• Dementia Research Network IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate Member of Dementia Research Network Ireland, contributing to dementia research efforts.
• The WheelminorOthersMember of The Wheel, Ireland's umbrella body for community, voluntary and charitable organisations.
• DropboxminorOthersProvides non-profit and charitable discount for Engaging Dementia's operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Alzheimer Scotland: Scotland's national dementia charity delivering training, day services, and community programmes. Comparable regional charity model with overlapping training and community café concepts.
• Alzheimer's Society (UK): Largest UK dementia charity providing training, information, and support services nationwide. Operates in the same space as Engaging Dementia but at significantly greater scale and broader scope.
• Age UK: UK-wide charity supporting older adults with information, advice, and community programmes. Overlaps with Engaging Dementia on older-adult engagement and family-carer support, though broader than dementia-specific.

Emerging players

• Music & Memory: US non-profit providing personalized music programmes for people with dementia. Overlaps with Engaging Dementia's Spotify playlist initiative and Ciúnas audio products for dementia engagement.
• Carers Trust: UK charity supporting unpaid family carers with training, services, and advocacy. Overlaps with Engaging Dementia's family-carer training segment and Dementia Cafe support model.
• Life Story Network: UK charity promoting reminiscence and life-story work in dementia care. Closely aligned with Engaging Dementia's reminiscence therapy products and community engagement approach.

Direct peers

• Dementia UK: UK charity offering dementia specialist Admiral Nurses, training, and family support. Comparable to Engaging Dementia in mission and service mix, including training and community-based engagement.
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland: Ireland's national dementia charity providing services, training, and advocacy for people living with dementia and their carers. Directly overlaps with Engaging Dementia's mission, training portfolio, and family-carer support programmes.
• Positive Approach to Care (Teepa Snow): Training and certification organization offering evidence-based dementia care programmes (PAC). Directly comparable training model to Engaging Dementia's Sonas and CST training portfolio.
• Dementia Friends (Alzheimer's Society programme): Awareness and training initiative focused on creating dementia-friendly communities. Closely comparable to Engaging Dementia's Dementia Cafe Network and Dementia-Inclusive initiatives through GAA and HSE partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/EngagingDemIrl
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVrfguVbUTnuJ_V5w0OgEfw
• Facebookfacebook.com/EngagingDementiaIreland
• Instagraminstagram.com/engagingdementia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/engagingdementia

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Engaging Dementia