by Mariam Boulos Hello Everyone! My name is Mariam Boulos. I am completing my doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Cleveland State University. Over the past few months, I had the pleasure of completing my capstone project at Brush Development Company in Northeast Ohio. To give a bit of background, when I was looking for an…
by Margaret Jarrell I recently spent two days in Dallas at the Montessori Institute of North Texas presenting our two-day introductory workshop to Montessori for Aging and Dementia. The workshop was attended by Montessori educators and trainers, loved ones of people living with dementia, as well as healthcare and longterm care professionals. The introductory workshop…
by Rita Akins, Montessori Images, Company founder A Whole Brain WorkoutJust as reading is one of the last functions lost in dementia, musical memory is accessible even in the late stages of memory disorders when only some brain tissue is still capable of functioning normally. Because musical perception is processed throughout the entire brain, music…
In a time when we are all experiencing frustrations about being short staffed, we should consider engaging healthy, older adults living in our communities who have the time and interest to help others. Many retired individuals are more than willing to spend a few hours a week with frail or cognitively impaired elders to enhance…
We are all living longer, and the older you are, the greater your risk of developing dementia. If we are sick and frail during the last several years of our life, if we have dementia, are those additional years quality years? Do you ever stop and think, “What happens if I get dementia?” I bet…
Current research shows that outdoor activity promotes brain plasticity by stimulating new connections between cells in the parts of our brain responsible for speech, processing, interpreting sensory stimulation, coordination, problem solving, emotional reasoning and complex thought. When we are outside, we are exposed to 33–66 times the amount of natural light that we receive indoors. Being…
You know this elder well. Whether because she is a family member, friend, or resident in your care community, you have taken the time to get to know important details about her past, her interests, her strengths, her challenges, and her preferences. Now what? Now, it’s time to create a meaningful engagement plan. The Montessori…
In a time when we are all experiencing frustrations about being short staffed, we should consider engaging healthy, older adults living in our communities who have the time and interest to help others. Many retired individuals are more than willing to spend a few hours a week with frail or cognitively impaired elders to enhance…
Individuals living in senior living residences often face challenges in wayfinding for a variety of reasons that include reduced short-term memory, difficulty with visual acuity, and limitations in the built environment that inhibit route-finding. Due to these considerations, individuals may demonstrate reduced involvement in a community and/or increased need for assistance; therefore, reducing their independence. …
With a passion for photography, Penny McPeak started Penny & Lucy Lou Art in May of 2013, a truly unique art line that stands out by offering custom products for any type of interior or exterior art installation. All art is a turn-key finished product, created digitally, printed on various substrates, and manufactured in the Carolinas. The art used in…
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…
You were asked to create and deliver an in-service, but most of the ones you’ve attended have bored you to tears and were unengaging. You want to create a dynamic one, but how? In-services play a crucial role in enhancing employee skills and knowledge. However, they are often met with groans and disinterest, and that…
