Abstract/Notes: Creative activities can support people with dementia, leading to moments of reconnection and joy. This book shows how the Montessori method - with its arts-based, person-centred and positive focus - can help caregivers connect to people with dementia. Drawing on 20 years of experience, Tom and Karen Brenner explain the philosophy of the Montessori method, provide clearly-written steps to follow when applying it, and share a wealth of case studies and stories from their personal work using this method with people with dementia. This includes reading circles, art programmes, drum circles, poetry, and video diaries. Supported by research of the importance of creativity and the arts in dementia care, it is made clear throughout how every aspect of the Montessori method can help those with dementia to rediscover the world around them, maximising the opportunities they have to reconnect with their peers, family, friends, and support staff.

Language: English

Published: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-78592-813-0 978-1-78450-873-9 1-78450-873-X

Abstract/Notes: Objective To investigate the effect of the DementiAbility Methods: The Montessori Way (DMMW) on agitation in long-term care home residents with dementia. The activities using the DMMW are hypothesized to reduce agitation in terms of its frequency and disruptiveness to greater extent than structured social activities as control. Methods Forty-six long-term care home residents with dementia were randomly allocated to receive the DMMW (n = 23) or structured social activities as control (n = 23). Each participant received six intervention sessions of 45 minutes each within 2 weeks, at long-term care home. Agitation in terms of frequency and disruptiveness before and after the intervention were compared. Results The results showed that the DMMW resulted in significant reduction in overall frequency and disruptiveness of agitation. The DMMW group had significant reduction in frequency and disruptiveness of verbal aggressive, physical nonaggressive, and physical aggressive behaviors after the intervention. Conclusions The present findings support the potential of the DMMW as a safe and efficacious therapeutic intervention for addressing agitation in long-term care home residents with dementia, relevant to Hong Kong culture.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1002/gps.5063

ISSN: 1099-1166

Abstract/Notes: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the Adult Day Services program and Adult Day programs across the country. As the Adult Day Services program transitions to an in-person format, goals within the organization include developing appropriate programming, increasing group size, and keeping clients entertained. The framework guiding this quality improvement project is Montessori-Based Dementia Programming ® (MBDP). This project aims to increase client engagement, decrease client anxiety, and decrease staff workload. This will be measured by a self-developed staff workload survey, the Menorah-Park Engagement, and the Affect rating scale. Implementation of MBDP at the Adult Day Center did not meet all projected goals, however benefits of MBDP were observed. The benefits of MBDP include improved affect and engagement of clients when participating in MBDP.

Language: English

Published: San Francisco, California, 2022

Language: English

DOI: 10.1177/1533317510385810

ISSN: 1082-5207, 2162-9986

Abstract/Notes: Six persons in the early to middle stages of dementia (“leaders”) were trained in Resident-Assisted Montessori Programming (RAMP™) to lead a reading activity fo...

Language: English

DOI: 10.1177/1533317506297895

ISSN: 1082-5207, 2162-9986

Abstract/Notes: Person-centered models of dementia care commonly merge aspects of existing models with additional influences from published and unpublished evidence and existing government policy. This study reports on the development and evaluation of one such composite model of person-centered dementia care, the ABLE model. The model was based on building the capacity and ability of residents living with dementia, using environmental changes, staff education and organizational and community engagement. Montessori principles were also used. The evaluation of the model employed mixed methods. Significant behavior changes were evident among residents of the dementia care Unit after the model was introduced, as were reductions in anti-psychotic and sedative medication. Staff reported increased knowledge about meeting the needs of people with dementia, and experienced organizational culture change that supported the ABLE model of care. Families were very satisfied with the changes.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2014.11.003

ISSN: 0197-4572

Abstract/Notes: Background: Patients with dementia experience a variety of neuropsychiatric symptoms and behavioral disturbances. The Montessori method is a type of non-pharmacological intervention to care for people with dementia. However, there are few bibliometric studies on the application of Montessori methods. We aimed to analyze the hotspots and trends of research on the application of Montessori methods to the care of dementia patients. Methods: Microsoft Office Excel, Co-Occurrence 9.9, and CiteSpace were used to analyze the articles on Montessori intervention in patients with dementia from 2000 to 2021 in China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Web of Science core collection database, PubMed, and Scopus. Results: A total of 23 Chinese language publications and 113 English language publications were included. The number of English language publications was on the rise, while the number of Chinese language publications was low. There are many issuing institutions which published articles in this field, mostly concentrated in universities. English language publication sources were more than Chinese language publication sources. The hot research topic in Chinese language publications and English language publications was the care of agitated behavior of dementia patients based on the Montessori method. The psychological problems of dementia patients are likely to become a hot issue of concern for scholars in Chinese. There will be a lot of research focusing on dementia patients and their family caregivers in this field. Conclusion: The bibliometric and visualization analysis helps us understand the current research status and hotspots of Montessori intervention in dementia patients in Chinese language publications and English language publications.

Language: English

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.737270

ISSN: 1664-0640

Abstract/Notes: Clients with dementia in an adult day care center were observed taking part in regular activities programming or Montessori-based activities developed for persons with dementia. During the nine-month study, clients in Montessori-based activities exhibited greater amounts of constructive engagement, defined as motor or verbal behavior exhibited in response to the activity in which the client was taking part, than clients in regular programming. Montessori-based activities also elicited less passive engagement, defined as listening and/or looking behavior exhibited in response to the activity the clients were participating in, than regular programming. Implications of these results and ways to implement Montessori-based programming in settings serving persons with dementia are discussed.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1177/153331750001500105

ISSN: 1082-5207, 2162-9986

Abstract/Notes: A systematic review of evidence for the efficacy of environment-based interventions on the affect, behavior, and performance of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias was conducted as part of the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Evidence-Based Literature Review Project. Thirty-three reports met inclusion criteria. Results suggest that ambient music, aromatherapy, and Snoezelen® are modestly effective in reducing agitation but do not consistently have long-term effects. Visually complex environments that give the illusion of barriers deter people from wandering to unsafe places but do not reduce the urge to wander. Evidence that bright light therapy can aid in regulating mood and the sleep–wake cycle and thus help people remain awake during the day is preliminary. Montessori-based programming can be useful in matching activities to the person’s remaining skills. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term effect, contraindications, and best dosages of these interventions.

Language: English

DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2011.002600

ISSN: 0272-9490, 1943-7676

Abstract/Notes: The Montessori Method for dementia is a specific approach to dementia care that can be implemented as an alternative to pharmaceutical intervention with its focus on purposeful and meaningful doing. Montessori-based interventions that were found effective in increasing self-feeding for people with dementia included activities requiring hand-eye coordination, scooping, pouring and squeezing. For this project, there were five participants from a residential care facility. This study consisted of doing activities or exercises to simulate eating right before mealtime. This occurred three times per week for eight weeks. The broad long-term purpose of this project was to increase participation in the daily occupation of self-feeding for people with dementia in residential care facilities. Montessori-based occupational therapy interventions could provide caregivers with an evidence-based strategy to deal with eating difficulties of people with dementia.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2015