Brush Development’s First Annual Practitioner Symposium
| | |

Brush Development’s First Annual Practitioner Symposium

The First Annual Practitioner Symposium on September 29th brought together Montessori professionals from around the world who have completed our Practitioner Certification Course. Since the first cohort was certified in 2016, there are now over 276 Certified Montessori for Aging and Dementia Practitioners around the world.

Art is a Meaningful (and Beautiful) Way to Help Elders Wayfind
| |

Art is a Meaningful (and Beautiful) Way to Help Elders Wayfind

For the past two years, Brush Development has been collaborating with Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina and McMillan Pazdan Smith Architects to design the new Evergreen House at Summerville, a thriving Montessori memory care community. Penny & Lucy Lou Art were instrumental in providing clear, vibrant images to complement the building design and aid in wayfinding. We couldn’t have had such success without the involvement of interior designer, Sydney Kerschen. The following interview with her is from Penny & Lucy Lou Art’s recent blog post.

Gifts from the Heart: Gift Ideas for a Loved One Living with Dementia

Gifts from the Heart: Gift Ideas for a Loved One Living with Dementia

As a care partner, you already know that the greatest gift you can give your loved one diagnosed with dementia is your time. The love and attention you share and the experiences you create for your loved one are truly priceless. But if you do find yourself shopping for a tangible gift to give for a birthday or holiday, keep the following in mind.

Demi, The Remembrance Elephant
|

Demi, The Remembrance Elephant

We love opportunities to show off the great work that our students are doing all over the world. Adri Stander, a Certified Practitioner in Montessori for Aging and Dementia in South Africa, is also a talented jewelry designer. She has chosen to bring awareness to and raise money for Alzheimer’s disease through her artwork. Her jewelry makes a great gift for a loved one, friend, or colleague.

Inspiring Purpose through Montessori at Renew Center, Adult Enrichment Centers
| | |

Inspiring Purpose through Montessori at Renew Center, Adult Enrichment Centers

We are proud to share this article written by Beth Ann Scruggs, Director of the Renew Montessori Center for Aging and Memory, an adult day program in Fort Mill, South Carolina. We have been in partnership with Renew since 2020, working with the leadership team to plan and implement a Montessori program, training staff, and providing ongoing coaching as the program got off the ground. We are so proud of all they have accomplished!

Redstone Presbyterian Shares How They Live the Montessori Philosophy
|

Redstone Presbyterian Shares How They Live the Montessori Philosophy

The Brush Development team has had the privilege of working with Redstone Presbyterian Communities in Pennsylvania for the past 7 months. We have provided staff training, regularly coaching calls, design advice, and monthly in person mentoring visits to help three of their communities fully implement the Montessori philosophy. In this article, they share what Montessori means to them.

Inspiring Montessori Community in Romania (Spanish translation provided)
|

Inspiring Montessori Community in Romania (Spanish translation provided)

The word for this month is definitely INSPIRATION! I am very blessed that I am able to travel to so many interesting places, share my vision of dementia care, inspire others, and learn from those I meet. I have just returned from Finland, Ireland and Romania where I taught workshops and also took time to learn about the culture and experience some remarkable places. So how has this inspired the way that I approach dementia care?

EVERGREEN HOUSE – An innovative memory care environment using Montessori best practices

EVERGREEN HOUSE – An innovative memory care environment using Montessori best practices

Evergreen House is the The Village at Summerville’s new memory support neighborhood, which is currently under construction. From Evergreen House’s inception, I have worked in conjunction with Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina and McMillan Pazdan & Smith Architects to design this unique community, which will fully implement the Montessori for Aging and Dementia philosophy.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN… From Can’t to Can Do! Travels to Finland

ON THE ROAD AGAIN… From Can’t to Can Do! Travels to Finland

I love traveling, seeing new things, and meeting wonderful people along the way. The relationships formed during travel are some that I cherish the most. Certainly, COVID has put a damper on that for all of us. In 2019 I was scheduled to go to Finland and present my From Can’t to Can Do! Montessori for Aging and Dementia program. Of course, that was cancelled, and after rescheduling twice, I am pleased to be leaving next week for Helsinki! A group of wonderfully determined women who I first met in Prague are hosting my visit in order pioneer change in elder care. Their group is called Muisti Montessori and here is their story.