Category: Uncategorized

Here is an article from the Washington Post that is quite  positive. The story itself, of a dementia friendly night at a local restaurant, shows how people, who have experienced dementia in their family, can be so kind and extend themselves to others dealing with it.

Just as important is a point made in the story that is dear to the heart of The Montessori Alzheimer’s Project – how to prepare the environment when going outside the home. The environment outside  the home includes many people that are unfamiliar, often people trying to help you such as salespersons, waitpersons and so forth. This is a key concern that can be dealt with by using a simple information card.  Thank you to David Nisbet who is mentioned in the article. This is such a wonderful practical idea.

We have posted a downloadable word file that you can edit and copy as needed. We will be posting it in other languages shortly. The file will print out sized as a business card. https://montessorialzheimersproject.com/map-card-for-caregivers/

The idea of having a card you can hand to someone at the store, or at a restaurant, or anywhere else in public, is that quietly lets them know that the loved one by your side has dementia. It gives them a reference point simply, quickly and quietly without the need for you to explain anything in front of your loved one. We believe most people will respond to those cues in a very positive understanding way making going out in public easier for you and your loved one.

The article is found at https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/08/05/this-restaurant-is-starting-monthly-dementia-friendly-night/

May 9, 2019

On Wednesday, March 6th , 2019 from 10am – 11:30am,  we will be making a presentation of the Montessori Alzheimer’s Project principles at the Yakimovich Wellness Centre 1454 Hillside Ave in Victoria, BC.  We look forward to engaging with the Caregiving community on Vancouver Island.

For those who are in the Victoria area, please contact the Wellness Centre to register by calling 250-370-5641, press ‘2’ (this is an automated system or by email to WellnessCentreRegistration@viha.ca

When you read our book The Montessori Alzheimer’s Project,you’ll find references throughout it to what we refer to in our full Training Course as “The 3 S’s”.  One of the three S’s is “Simplify”.  (We’ll discuss the other two in future posts.)

To gain some understanding of the importance of Simplification to someone who has some form of dementia, I want to begin by asking you some questions:

      Have you ever entered a gift store, or walked along an aisle in a supermarket, and not been sure where to start?  So many products and choices!

·     Have you been unable to find what you’re looking for amongst the masses of objects/products that are packed together in the shelves?  

·     Have you been unable to make a choice because there were so many choices in front of you? 

 Dr. Montessori recommended that Montessori prepared environments be prepared in a way that creates an orderly, attractive, Simple and navigable space.  When this is done, the difficulties described above tend to melt away.  It is easy to find a starting point.  It’s not at all hard to locate what you’re looking for.  Making a choice is a simple matter, rather than an obstacle, because the choices have been purposely limited.

With regard to educational materials, here again Simplification was the order of Montessori’s day.  She developed materials that lend themselves to multiple uses, rather than a different item for every individual concept.

Having materials present in an attractive environment set up so that one can easily find whichever of those flexible tools is needed for a particular purpose keeps things Simple.  There is no sea of distractions through which one has to wade.  No multitude of choices through which one must try to navigate. 

 The Montessori Alzheimer’s Projecthas adapted this approach of Simplification to the needs of someone who has dementia.  It is an important principle in Montessori classrooms, but is even more critical in the prepared environment where a person with dementia is to live and in which they can participate as his/her faculties gradually erode.

 Try it and see how small changes in the environment can have a huge positive impact!  Our book gives some examples of how you might simplify your home environment, your communications, and engagements with friends/family. You can build on these examples according to what your loved one needs now and as things progress.

 This one principle alone will make your life, and the life of your loved one with dementia, smoother and gentler. With that, there is more opportunity for love and joy to be keynotes in your day.

Best wishes from Greg