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First Person in Mexico to Earn AMI Practitioner Certificate!

Congratulations to Julia Ballesteros Senties, the first person in Mexico to earn an AMI Practitioner Certification in Montessori for Dementia and Aging. Julia took the workshop with Jennifer Brush in Minneapolis and then studied with Jennifer for 6 months in the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Certificate Program. Julia is a speech and language therapist who…

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Wandering? Or walking about? When people with dementia leave the house unattended.

Recently one of my clients called me. I could tell by his voice that he was panicked and scared.  He was in the kitchen making dinner while his wife who is living with dementia, napped on the couch. Or so he thought.  When he called her for dinner she was no where to be found. …

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Improving Mealtime for People Living with Dementia

Many individuals living with dementia forget to eat or become overwhelmed at the thought of preparing meals or making choices about what to eat.  Rather than care partners taking over every related to meal time, we can often modify the home environment to provide structure, but also gives the person independence, self-esteem and the knowledge that…

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NCCAP Montessori for Dementia Engagement Certification

I am very excited to announce a new collaboration between The National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP) and Brush Development Company.  We have  have partnered to offer health care professionals a Montessori for Dementia Engagement Certification. The Montessori for Dementia Engagement Certification curriculum provides a thorough introduction to using Montessori with elders and people…

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Communicating with People Living with Dementia

To have the most success during activities and conversations with people with dementia, care partners will need to adjust their style of communication so it is easier for the person with dementia to understand and follow the conversation.  Here are some tips that will ensure success. Consider this Sometimes it is hard to remember that…

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First Montessori for Aging and Dementia Workshop Offered in Ireland

I am excited to be traveling to Ireland in Spring 2018 to teach my From Can’t to Can Do! Montessori for Aging and Dementia workshop.  All interested in Montessori for aging are invited to attend.  Below is the announcement recently released by Saint Nicholas Montessori College of Ireland. Saint Nicholas Montessori College Ireland (SNMCI) and…

I’m still me!

Part of my private practice involves working with individuals who are learning to manage the early symptoms of dementia while living at home.  I help them to maintain their cognitive skills and ability to care for themselves, encourage them to exercise, eat well, and maintain their social lives, and we work together to make modifications…

Brush Development Partners with Montessori for Dementia Training Center

A Note From Jennifer Last week I taught at the internationally recognized Montessori Center of Minnesota (MCM). The center has offered high-quality, hands-on training in Dr. Montessori’s proven method of education to the world’s leading Montessori teachers for more than 40 years. Located in a beautiful state-of-the-art facility in St. Paul, MN, MCM provides teacher…

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How Montessori is Changing the Way One Community Supports Person-Centered Living

The Life Enrichment staff at Clark Retirement in Grand Rapids has been working step by step to implement the Montessori philosophy of life.  A big part of that process has involved collaborating the with residents and their families to identify meaningful roles that give individuals a chance to contribute to the community and help others. …