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

ByJennifer Brush

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.

Gift ideas for someone with dementia

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

ByJennifer Brush

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 jewelry
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Demi, The Remembrance Elephant

ByJennifer Brush

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.

elder living with purpose - creating a memoire
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Inspiring Purpose through Montessori at Renew Center, Adult Enrichment Centers

ByJennifer Brush

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
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Redstone Presbyterian Shares How They Live the Montessori Philosophy

ByJennifer Brush

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.

live moss wall in Montessori classroom environment
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Inspiring Montessori Community in Romania (Spanish translation provided)

ByJennifer Brush

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 was designed for the Montessori philosophy of living

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

ByJennifer Brush

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.

Muisti Montessori

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

ByJennifer Brush

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.

Passavant Community – a prepared environment for elders to enjoy

“But, we can’t leave materials out in our community – the residents will take things back to their room!”

ByJennifer Brush

In a Montessori community for older adults, a wide range of interesting materials are available on accessible shelves and tables from which individuals can choose. This idea often makes staff in long term care communities nervous when they first learn about it. “You mean everything is out all of the time? You don’t put it away and then bring it to them? Everyone in our community would take things into their rooms. This is never going to work!” I hear this at every single workshop I teach. It can work.

Photo by JD Mason on Unsplash
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What should I say when residents ask me to take them home?

ByJennifer Brush

One of the most common questions I am asked by my clients is, “What do I say when residents repeatedly ask me to take them home?” If you work in long term care, you have encountered this before. You may have told the person, “You live here at Sunny Acres now.” Or you may have tried redirecting the person by changing the topic and never answered the question. Do you like to be redirected and ignored when you ask a question? My guess is no. People with memory loss can feel ignored too. Either response you tried likely did not solve the problem, and now both you and the elder feel bad. So, what do you do?

Senior man quarantined to room during COVID-19
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Behind Closed Doors in Long Term Care During COVID-19

ByJennifer Brush

Seniors living in long term care communities have been more isolated than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people with advanced dementia are not safe behind closed doors. They are often dependent on trained caregivers to help them meet their basic daily needs; that is why they are living in long term care communities. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is hitting long-term care communities hard and they are attempting to stop the spread by keeping people in their rooms behind closed doors.

Nomenclature Cards
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Introducing Montessori for Elders in Norway

ByJennifer Brush

Elisabeth Rydland and Carolyn Magnussen are the first AMI Certified Practitioners in Montessori for Dementia and Ageing in Norway. They share a new, rewarding perspective, one that provides a deeper value to the Montessori philosophy and enhances quality of life for elders and people with dementia.