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In keeping with our goal of supporting individuals with dementia and their caregivers, here is an article about finding ease and joy in art.  It is something that can be done at home with family members, bringing generations together.

http://www.dailypress.com/entertainment/dp-fea-pfac-alzheimers-art-matters-20180316-story.html

The use of finger, wrist and arm movements, from the MAP perspective, stimulates and preserves muscle memory as indirect preparation for other tasks, including, for example, retaining the ability to feed oneself, sewing, knitting and gardening.

For multi-generational interactions, using both adult and children’s coloring books are a wonderful way to strengthen bonds of love as we make pictures together.

Look for task and activities that have those qualities – movement large and small muscle groups, focus on things that really cannot be done wrong, and that we can do together or side-be-side.  These will always bring both ease and joy, which make life meaningful.

Applying Montessori principles as a method to avoid obstacles and increase joy are often spontaneously understood by caregivers.  This link shows how not “correcting” the understanding of a patient can lead to phenomenal warmth, appreciation of connection, and joy.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2018/01/25/husband-with-alzheimers-forgot-he-was-married-to-his-wife-of-38-years-he-proposed-and-they-married-again/?utm_term=.9455144824e7

The Montessori Australia Foundation kindly recorded the presentation we made at the Aging Symposium this past summer in Prague.  Here it is, a brief summary of our approach in applying Montessori principles to dementia care.

The office of the Seniors Advocate released their Residential care survey results for the Province of British Columbia.  While much good work is being done in care facilties here, the results and recommendations make it clear that what is needed is a Montessori view of engagement with residents.

The survey does not address the needs of those with dementia still living at home.

The survey confirmed our understanding of the need for Montessori vision and practice to be applied to the caring of those with dementia, both at home and in facilities.

 

The conference included 390 participants from many different parts of the world. With the exception of our presentation, the program focused on the work different people are doing working with dementia patients in facilities.

Our presentation on how to speak to persons with dementia was very well received. The feedback was that it gave concrete guidance.  We had several private conversations with participants dealing with dementia in the family.  As always, I asked how many people attending had dementia in the family. At this conference, about 1/3 of the people raised their hands.

People are interested in learning more of our work, and we are interested in putting more out there.

The long and the short of it is that Montessori pedagogy is being applied successfully for the benefit of persons with dementia in more and more places. This is wonderful news.