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.
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?
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.
You may not realize it, but many of your employees are in the Sandwich Generation. The term Sandwich Generation is often used to describe individuals who are raising children and caring for their parents at the same time. Most are also managing a career and juggling a variety of other commitments. Sound familiar? You might…
For people living with dementia, reading is a preserved skill. Therefore visual aids that include written information can be used as memory supports. Memory books can improve quality of life by: Helping people remember important information Making conversation easier Reducing responsive (challenging) behaviors, such as exit seeking and repetitive questioning Providing reassurance and comfort A…
I am very excited to announce a new collaboration between The National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP) and Brush Development Company. We have have partnered to offer health care professionals a Montessori for Dementia Engagement Certification. The Montessori for Dementia Engagement Certification curriculum provides a thorough introduction to using Montessori with elders and people…
Although we would all like our loved ones to age gracefully at home, there may come a time that our parent or spouse requires a level of care that we just can’t provide at home. Many of my clients ask me to help their family prepare for the transition when it’s time to move their…
Last week, Association Montessori International held the first European Symposium on Montessori for Aging and Dementia in Prague. I was honored to be one of the featured speakers and chose to speak about making the connection between the Montessori classroom and a Montessori community for elders. I shared with the audience the difference and similarities…
Adapted from Getting Started with Montessori Volume 1 by Brush & Norris ((c) 2017 Brush Development Company) Dr. Montessori developed practical life activities to help children develop coordination, order, independence, and concentration. By developing those qualities, the child is able to get the most out of the learning experience. There are four main areas of practical…
This week I welcome Vicki Tapia as a guest blogger, family care partner, and advocate for people with dementia. By Vicki Tapia: In 2004, my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s-related dementia and a few months later, my mother with Alzheimer’s disease. That was the year I became a caregiver. While my parents didn’t reside with me,…
In honor of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month this November, I am offering some helpful tips for the many men and women helping to care for and support their loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease or another type of dementia. Below are the top five most effective tips for positive communication…
As health care professionals, our role is to collaborate with older adults, to help them fill-in the gaps of their abilities and to help them succeed at doing what they want to do. Brush Development Company is offering a new 12-hour online, one-on-one private course that invites, encourages and challenges speech-language pathologists and other health…
