Books by Jennifer Brush
- Montessori for Elder and Dementia Care, 2nd Edition
- Montessori for Elder and Dementia Care
- A Day on the Wind Seeker
- I Care: A Handbook for Care Partners of People with Dementia
- Spaced Retrieval Step by Step | An Evidence-Based Memory Intervention
- Creative Connections in Dementia Care™
- Environment and Communication Assessment Toolkit for Dementia Care (ECAT)
Montessori for Elder and Dementia Care
2nd Edition
By Jennifer A. Brush and Margaret C. Jarrell
Written by international Montessori and dementia experts, this indispensable guide to Montessori for elders makes it possible for any care provider to understand and implement this innovative approach to aging.
Jennifer Brush and Margaret Jarrell show care communities how to create and sustain a team that promotes elders’ functional skills, independence, and identity by integrating the Montessori philosophy throughout daily life. Based on years of research, clinical practice, and educational experience, Brush and Jarrell clearly explain the concepts behind this highly person-centered approach, how to create a prepared environment, and how to increase levels of engagement for older adults.
In addition to covering all the essentials needed to begin and sustain the Montessori philosophy with elders or people living with dementia, this new edition includes guidelines for intergenerational programming, added forms and assessments, more ready-to-use activities, and a step-by-step implementation plan.
$39.99 | Health Professions Press (2024)
Stock#: 01118 | ISBN 978-1-956801-11-8 | Approx. 140 pages
© 2024 Jennifer A. Brush
Reviews
“A must-read for individual practitioners and organizations involved in elder care. The book’s real strength lies in its ability to seamlessly integrate Montessori principles into elder care, creating ‘meaningful engagements’ that prioritize independence, dignity, and a sense of purpose.”
Nicholas Breakwell, Ph.D.
CEO, St. Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland
“A groundbreaking resource that effortlessly weaves together research-backed theories with real-world applications, creating a comprehensive guide that is both accessible and transformative.
Addie M. Abushousheh, Ph.D., EDAC, Assoc AIA
Organizational & Environmental Gerontologist, Research Associate, The Center for Health Design
“Suitable for a wide audience, from family caregivers to healthcare professionals… This book stands out as an indispensable resource for anyone touched by the realities of dementia. With a perfect blend of empathy, expertise, and practical advice, it provides a comprehensive guide that is both informative and deeply compassionate.”
Lynne Giacobbe
CEO, Kendal at Home
“This resource from expert authors provides a trusted tool to competently and confidently implement the Montessori philosophy to facilitate older adults’ meaningful engagement in the community.”
Susan Almon-Matangos, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-language pathologist, subject matter expert, and writer
“This book is both highly readable and exceptionally practical.”
Margaret Calkins, Ph.D., EDAC, FGSA
Senior Researcher and Board Chair, IDEAS Institute
Montessori for Elder and Dementia Care
By Jennifer A. Brush
Written by an international Montessori and dementia expert, this indispensable guide to Montessori for elders makes it possible for any care provider to understand and implement this innovative approach to aging.
Jennifer Brush shows care communities how to create and sustain a team that integrates the Montessori philosophy throughout daily life and successfully promotes elders’ functional skills, independence, and identity. Based on her years as a researcher, clinician, and educator, Brush clearly explains the concepts behind this highly person-centered approach, how to create a prepared environment, and how to increase levels of life engagement for older adults.
Filled with helpful advice, forms, and ready-to-use activities, this thorough guide is essential in implementing the Montessori philosophy with elders or people living with dementia.
$36.99 | Health Professions Press (2020)
Stock#: 70897 | ISBN 978-1-938870-89-7 | 96 pages
© 2020 Jennifer Brush
Stories for Older Adults™ Series
A Day on the Wind Seeker
By Rita Akins with Jennifer Brush
An interactive read-aloud book for people with dementia featuring large print and colorful, high-contrast illustration. Collaboratively created by a talented illustrator, a Montessori teacher and a dementia care expert.
Emma has dreamed of sailing since her childhood. She and her grandfather, Papa Jack, worked hard to restore an old sloop. Now the day has come for a first sail. Will Emma be ready to sail the Wind Seeker?
This engaging story about the special relationship enjoyed by a grandfather and granddaughter was created especially for and tested with people living with cognitive impairment.
The story features:
- Large print text
- Colorful, high-contrast illustrations
- A question at the end of each page to encourage conversation
The book was designed to be used in several different ways:
- A person with dementia can read the story to a small group of peers. He or she can present the question at the end of each page for group discussion.
- A person with dementia can read the story to a child or a family member and reminisce about similar experiences.
- A care partner can read the story aloud to a person with dementia and use the question at the end of each page to inspire discussion.
- A person with dementia can read the story alone, either silently or aloud. Most enjoy reading the story aloud.
Reading aloud is a preserved ability in dementia and many individuals, even those in the later stage of the disease, enjoy reading to others. With short, illustrated stories designed to accommodate their reading needs, people with dementia can participate with ease and enjoyment in the reading experience. — Jennifer Brush, M.A., CCC/SLP
$15.95 | https://montessori-images.com
Soft cover, durable #80 paper
Dimensions: 8.5 x 11; 12 pages of text (verso); 12 pages of illustration (recto)
© 2017 Brush
With her 25 years of industry experience, including leading live national and international trainings and facilitating ground-breaking research, Jennifer flawlessly bridges the gap between care communities and the individuals they serve.
I Care: A Handbook for Care Partners of People with Dementia
By Jennifer Brush and Kerry Mills
I Care is a gold medal winner in the healthcare book category in the 23rd annual National Mature Media Awards Program and an Award-Winning Finalist in the “Health: Aging/50+” category of the 2014 USA Best Book Awards. This book is currently handed out by the Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital, Geriatric Assessment Program as recommended reading for patients and families who have recently received a diagnosis of dementia.
This award winning book will both inspire and educate care partners of people with Alzheimer’s disease to make the most of each day! Care partners will see their loved one as a whole person with strengths and abilities, which will promote greater independence and self-sufficiency for the person with dementia.
I Care covers:
- Minimizing the care partner’s fears, frustrations, and stress
- Managing changes in communication, memory loss and behavior using best care techniques
- Making the home safe and supportive
- Understanding changes in brain function
- Addressing financial and legal issues
- And much more…
Health professionals are talking about I Care:
Spaced Retrieval Step by Step
An Evidence-Based Memory Intervention
By Jeanette E. Benigas, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Jennifer A. Brush, M.A., CCC-SLP, Gail Elliot BASc, M.A.
If you are looking for an effective way to support individuals with memory loss, this book will provide you with a fresh approach to Spaced Retrieval (SR). Now you can learn this innovative process step by step to assist people in learning the important information needed to improve independence, safety, and quality of life. Using this proven memory-training strategy allows people to learn and store important information so that, with practice, it can be easily accessed and retrieved.
This book includes:
- illustrative case studies
- forms for easy implementation (both in the book and as downloadable PDFs)
- visual cueing tools
- summary of evidence that supports effectiveness
Whether you have used SR techniques in the past or if you are new to this innovative approach to supporting memory you will find this book offers practical guidelines, tools, and a research review of how SR has developed over time. Speech-language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, nurses, and healthcare and homecare professionals, and family members at all levels of care can use SR to bring more confidence, safety, and independence into the lives of people with memory loss and their care partners. Learn more about SR by watching our free instructional video.
$32.99 | healthpropress.com/benigas
Stock #70460 | ISBN 978-1-938870-46-0 | 160 pages
Award Winning Book!
Creative Connections in Dementia Care is a Silver Award Winner in the 2016 National Health Information Awards. The National Health Information Awards honor the nation’s best consumer health programs and materials.
Creative Connections in Dementia Care™
By Rev. Katie Norris and Jennifer Brush
This book was named a Silver Award Winner from the 2016 National Health Information Awards. The National Health Information Awards honor the nation’s best consumer health programs and materials.
Creativity is preserved in dementia long after other abilities are lost, so that making art provides rich opportunities for meaningful engagement for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Creative Connections in Dementia Care™ provides care partners with the knowledge and easy-to-follow steps they need to successfully implement art projects in a group or one-on-one setting—and no art experience is required!
Written for anyone who cares for a person with dementia—family members, friends, and professionals—this how-to manual is packed with guidance to help enhance communication, interactions, task breakdown, and problem-solving efforts while also encouraging the abilities of each participant.
People with dementia enjoy valuable benefits when they actively engage in a creative activity:
- stress is reduced
- memories can be accessed
- mood and self-esteem are elevated
- a sense of personal identity and achievement is experienced
To help create these opportunities, Creative Connections in Dementia Care™ provides 10 basic art project “recipes,” detailing supplies, instructions, and activity modifications, as well as colorful, step-by-step photographs that show how to demonstrate and lead the activity for the person with dementia. Each art activity is failure-free and does not require memory skills to complete.
Bring joy and a powerful sense of connection to the lives of people experiencing dementia with this one-of-a-kind guide!
“Creative Connections in Dementia Care™: Engaging Activities to Enhance Communication is one of the most informative and practical books on how to engage creatively with those living with dementia that I have run across; and I review a lot of books! I love how easy the book is to use. The boxes with punch lists of how’s and why’s, along with pictures that guide you, simplify the process and get a person excited about trying something new. The personal stories touch the heart. I wish this book would have been around when my mother had dementia.”
– Lori La Bey, Founder of Alzheimer’s Speaks
> Purchase: healthpropress.com/product/creative-connections-in-dementia-care/
Environment and Communication Assessment Toolkit for Dementia Care (ECAT)
By Jennifer Brush, Margaret Calkins, Carrie Bruce and Jon Sanford
Health Professions Press (2012)
Finding simple solutions to improving the long term care environment. This evidence-based toolkit includes the tools you need to assess, intervene, and modify on an individualized basis to ensure the quality of life for people with dementia. In three easy-to-follow steps, the ECAT help you:
- Record activity performance deficits
- Evaluate the environment to identify barriers and problems
- Pinpoint individualized recommendations for intervention
- Reduce barriers to functioning
> Purchase: healthpropress.com/ECAT
> Purchase: fishpond.com.au (Australia)
