How the Montessori for Ageing and Dementia Movement is Changing Care for Elders

Mandy Cheskis and Margaret Jarrell joined Greenspring Center for Lifelong Learning on their Voices of Montessori podcast to discuss Montessori for Aging and Dementia and how this movement is changing care for elders. After painting a picture of the current state of longterm care, Mandy and Margaret then share some exciting research findings about the impact of the Montessori approach on older adults and people living with dementia. They discussed features of a prepared environment for adults that combine best practices for people living with dementia with the Montessori approach of meaningful engagement. Mandy and Margaret talked about the importance of deeply knowing the person and designing individualised activities and roles that invite elders to contribute to their care of self, care of others, and care of the community. They also shared how specific Montessori materials can be used to help elders maintain skills. This approach often requires a longterm care community to undergo culture change, but the results speak for themselves. Listen in to learn more about this innovative approach to elder and dementia care!