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,…
The beauty and renewal of spring is upon us! And despite not having been in a garden or getting their hands dirty in the soil of flower beds, our elders living with dementia may have had a love of Mother Earth and we don’t even know it!
It is important that EVERY person have the ability enjoy activities they’ve loved throughout their lives.
The snow is melting, the sun is shining more, and it’s time to open the windows and let the spring breeze blow through the house. Getting rid of all the staleness of winter. Along with that you begin to feel the need to go through your closets, cabinets, and other areas you store items.
Great idea! But where to start?
We break it down into 4 simple steps.
This month’s Spotlight is on Fred Ellman, a man with a mission to deliver joy to the lives of Elders with dementia. He presented “Growing Mindfulness,” which showcased his Flying Compassion Garden. With Fred’s background as a toy maker, he brings imagination, connection and mindfulness together in a physical form. He shared his interactive horticulture…
Amazing ideas abound when Carolyn and Elisabeth share their thoughts and inspirations. During the Practitioner Symposium held in September, 2022, we had the pleasure of Carolyn and Elisabeth discussing what they have been doing to celebrate Montessori for use with elders. Carolyn and Elisabeth are both Montessori trained educators, who, together, founded Montessori Eldre Ressurs…
We had the privilege of having Henna Jalovaara, the founding member of Muisti Montessori, the Finnish Montessori for Dementia Association, speak at our symposium. Henna is an OT in a non-profit care home in Helsinki, Finland. This care home piloted Montessori in two of its eight households. During her presentation, Henna shared both the challenges and wins of initiating a Montessori program in her care community.
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.
Beth Ann Scruggs took the Practitioner Certificate course to design ideas and programs that were practical and engaging for members of an adult day program. In the end she gained more than she expected. Beth Ann is part of a team of dedicated providers at Renew, a Montessori based Adult Day Program in South Carolina. Their…
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…
Kathy Werner enrolled in the Montessori Practitioner’s Certificate course because of her strong desire to learn Montessori in a hands-on way. Kathy has eleven years of experience as a trainer working with adults with intellectual and physical disabilities and 20 years working as a physical therapist assistant. One of Kathy’s case studies was with a…
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…
