Blog

Montessori | Person-Centered Care

Inspiring Montessori Community in Romania (Spanish translation provided)
ByJennifer Brush October 26, 2021

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?

Read More Inspiring Montessori Community in Romania (Spanish translation provided)
Montessori

EVERGREEN HOUSE – An innovative memory care environment using Montessori best practices
ByJennifer Brush September 23, 2021

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.

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Montessori

ON THE ROAD AGAIN… From Can’t to Can Do! Travels to Finland
ByJennifer Brush September 21, 2021

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.

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

“But, we can’t leave materials out in our community – the residents will take things back to their room!”
ByJennifer Brush March 17, 2021

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.

Read More “But, we can’t leave materials out in our community – the residents will take things back to their room!”
Alzheimers | Care Partner | Communication | Dementia / Alzheimers

What should I say when residents ask me to take them home?
ByJennifer Brush March 17, 2021

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?

Read More What should I say when residents ask me to take them home?
COVID-19 | Long Term Care | Nursing Home

Behind Closed Doors in Long Term Care During COVID-19
ByJennifer Brush December 14, 2020

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.

Read More Behind Closed Doors in Long Term Care During COVID-19
Aging | Alzheimers | COVID-19 | Dementia | Dementia / Alzheimers | Montessori

Introducing Montessori for Elders in Norway
ByJennifer Brush November 30, 2020

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.

Read More Introducing Montessori for Elders in Norway
Behaviors | Communication | COVID-19 | Dementia | Dementia / Alzheimers | Uncategorized

An Unusual Companion During COVID-19
ByJennifer Brush November 5, 2020

Seniors living in long term care communities have been more isolated than ever during this COVID-19 pandemic. It is especially confusing and isolating for people living with dementia. Many have been quarantined in their rooms for long periods of time and have little contact with others. Here are some unexpected but helpful tools to help meet their basic needs of companionship and communication.

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Aging | Montessori | Roles and Activities

How to Use Montessori Materials with Older Adults
ByJennifer Brush October 23, 2020

Just as Montessori classroom teachers guide and support students instead of lecturing to them, Montessori staff guide and support elders instead of doing everything for them. Staff and elders work shoulder to shoulder as equally valued members of a shared community. Elders are invited to take on leadership roles in their areas of interest, such as leading a book discussion group or planning the menu for a holiday meal. Materials for these activities are neatly organized, labeled, and physically accessible all throughout the living area. Staff guide elders with these roles and activities until they build new routines, and their skills improve to the point that most are able to enjoy these activities on their own. In this post, we explore what Montessori roles and activities for elders look like.

Read More How to Use Montessori Materials with Older Adults
Living Well | Montessori | Person-Centered Care | Roles and Activities | Supportive Environment

What is Montessori for Dementia?
ByJennifer Brush July 24, 2020

Montessori philosophy, based on the principles of free choice and purposeful activity, has historically been focused on children’s education. However, its essential principles and practices are increasingly seen as critical to enhancing the lives of the older adults in our care. Central to both the Montessori philosophy and person-centered care are the core values of respect for the individual, the importance of knowing the person deeply, seeking and honoring the elder’s preferences over all aspects of his or her daily life, and creating a supportive environment that allows for continued participation in familiar and preferred activities, inside and outside.

Read More What is Montessori for Dementia?
Care Partner | COVID-19 | Long Term Care | Nursing Home | Person-Centered Care

Dementia Care and COVID-19: How do we move forward?
ByJennifer Brush July 5, 2020

All of us have been impacted by COVID-19 in many ways, both professionally and personally. The presence of the virus has also created some significant challenges for those living with dementia, especially for those living in long term care communities. In addition, as states work to reopen or partially reopen care communities, the common misunderstanding that individuals living with dementia cannot practice social distancing may result in their continued unnecessary and harmful isolation.

Read More Dementia Care and COVID-19: How do we move forward?
Montessori | Preserved Abilities

Simple In-Room Activity Idea
ByJennifer Brush April 20, 2020

Many of you have written to share your challenges and successes over the past few weeks and to ask for simple activity ideas that can be done easily in one’s bedroom on a tray table. Here is an idea for a simple activity that can help an individual to maintain fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination while feeling a sense of purpose by caring for his or her belongings.

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