Visuoperceptual Ability: “Visuoperceptual ability is a component of visual perception that enables recognition of objects based on their form, pattern, and color.” (Irani, F. (2011). Visuoperceptual. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY.) There are a number of visuoperceptual difficulties related to dementia such as: Common experiences…
The “Joy of Doing” activity box was developed by Elisabeth Rydland and Carolyn Magnussen, from Montessori Care, thanks to a generous stipend they received from The Dam Foundation and the Norwegian National Public Health Association. The box contains 7 different activities, an activity book and downloadable theme books which have been created especially for people…
I want to share an exciting new project with you. For the past year, Margaret and I have had the honor of collaborating with Barbara White (former Deputy Director for the Akron Public Library) to write a Dementia Inclusive Public Library Guide. This guide was the brainchild of Bonnie Burman from the Ohio Council of…
Ilda’s experience as a Montessori guide, combined with her understanding of the abilities, needs, and interests of the individual she worked with, allowed her to create a tailored approach using Montessori materials from various areas. She carefully modified the level of complexity and provided appropriate extensions to match the individual’s cognitive abilities. The outcomes of…
I work as a family physician, and for the past few years, I have been providing healthcare in two nursing homes. In addition to the most common physical symptoms, residents frequently express feelings of sadness, loneliness, and a sense of purposelessness. I often hear statements from the elderly who have moved into the nursing homes,…
Many people resolve to do things differently, better, or more or less often in the new year. These resolutions typically start off with gusto and sometimes fizzle out quickly, making us feel bad that we didn’t keep our resolution. For years, instead of making resolutions, I have created a vision board for myself. I think about what I would like to see or do in my personal, professional, and spiritual life and make a collage of drawings, words, photos, whatever inspires me.
The joy of educating and sharing the word about a new concept or idea is always so fun, and the energy following learning is high and ideas are everywhere! But as time moves along, the joy and excitement of the new information wears off and the reality of all the time and effort needed to…
THANK YOU. They are such common words that we often utter them without even thinking about it, or really even meaning it. But, when you look someone in the eyes and really thank them, you can change their day. Feeling appreciated is a need we all have, at any age. When we feel appreciated at work…
Congratulations and thank you to all of the students who participated in the first Brush Development Montessori Workshop in Slovenia. The course was hosted by Pavel and Melita Demsar, the founders of Institut Montessori. It was inspirational to be in such a well-designed and cared for Montessori environment. Participants had the opportunity to have lessons from the school guides and practice using the materials while discussing how they can be adapted for elders.
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.
Social gatherings are times of enjoyment, laughter, storytelling and sharing food and drink, but what happens when dementia is part of the social plan? Can your loved one still take part? Should s/he?
The answer is: It depends…
I hope you enjoy reading our guest article written by my friend, colleague and meditation buddy, Fred Ellman. His creativity in blending horticulture, spaced retrieval and Montessori is truly inspiring!
