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models of dementia care commonly merge aspects of existing models with additional influences from published and unpublished evidence and existing government policy.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

Language: English

DOI: 10.1177/1533317510385810

ISSN: 1082-5207, 2162-9986

Abstract/Notes: Persons with dementia are viewed as individuals who need continual supervision, who cannot learn or remember, and who continually exhibit challenging behaviors. They are often confined to institutional settings where they can be continually monitored and their behaviors can be controlled. Such environments are often cold and impersonal with an emphasis on safety and security rather than personhood and engagement. Just as Maria Montessori’s revolutionary ideas were originally applied to freeing children from the tyranny of early twentieth-century schools, Montessori pedagogy is now being expanded to improve the lives of persons living with dementia. This chapter examines progressive forms of dementia and the opportunity Montessori’s teachings offer for re-envisioning the final years of a lifetime not as dependency and disengagement but instead as meaningful participation in a supportive community.

Language: English

Published: New York, New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2023

ISBN: 978-1-350-27561-4 978-1-350-27560-7 978-1-350-27562-1

Series: Bloomsbury Handbooks

Abstract/Notes: Sixteen residents in long-term care with advanced dementia (14 women;average age = 88) showed significantly more constructive engagement(defined as motor or verbal behaviors in response to an activity), lesspassive engagement (defined as passively observing an activity), and morepleasure while participating in Montessori-based programming than inregularly scheduled activities programming. Principles of Montessori- basedprogramming, along with examples of such programming, are presented.Implications of the study and methods for expanding the use of Montessori-based dementia programming are discussed.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1093/geront/40.1.107

ISSN: 0016-9013

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

Abstract/Notes: AbstractObjective: To compare the memory scores in mild dementia elderly who attended Montessori-based Memory training with the control group who did not.Method: The Solomon four-group design was used to test the memory of the subjects. The subject of the study consisted of 40 elderly at Banbanglamung Social Welfare Development Center for Older Persons. Participants were divided to 2 experimental and 2 control groups by random sampling technique. Mini mental status Exam-Thai 2002 and Thai Geriatric Depression scale were used as a tool in selecting the subject and a tool to differentiate the mild dementia elderly group from the depressed group. The digit span and digit symbol subtests of The Wechsler Intelligence scale were used in memory testing. The data obtained was analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, t-test and one-way ANOVA.Results: The average scores of the digit span and digit symbol of the experimental groups and the controlled groups were significantly different (p<0.05). After 4 weeks of training, the average scores ofthe experimental groups increased more than that of the controlled group. After training, the average scores of memory of the four groups were significantly indifferent (p<0.05). Digit symbol scores of the experimental groups were higher than of the controlled groups by using LSD method.Conclusion: After memory training, the average scores of the digit span and digit symbol of the experimental groups were significantly higher than the controlled group. This differentce still persistedat the 12th week of training. Therefore, this memory training should be used with the elderly to prevent and delay dementia.

Language: Thai

ISSN: 2697-4126

Abstract/Notes: Objective: To compare ADL scores of elderly with early stage dementia who had attended Activities of Daily Living (ADL) skill training using Montessori-based activities with those who had not. Method: A quasi experimental study was conducted with Solomon Four Groups design experiment. The subjects consisted of 32 elderly living in Bang-Lamung senior home aged from 63-94 who met the inclusion criteria. They were diviecl into 2 qroups with 16 participants in each group then subgroup of 8 participants were selected to receive intervention and the controls were not. The screening instruments include mini mental status exam (MMSE-T2002) and Thai Geriatric Depression Scale (TGDS). Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scores of each subject were measured against Chula ADL index. The post test score was measured at the end of the 4th week, then the intervention was decreased and the follow-ups were measured at the end of the 8th and the 12th week. The data obtained was analyzed for descriptive statistics and the average ADL scores were compared by means of t-test and ANOVA. Results: The results showed that the average ADL pre-test scores of both groups were indifferent. The experimental groups average ADL scores of the post-test increased by 0.62 and the first follow up increased by 0.25 which are statistically significant at the level of p<0.05. Conclusion: Activities of Daily Living training using Montessori-based activities is effective in increasing ADL scores. It is recommended to be used as the activities for elderly with early stage dementia.

Language: Thai

ISSN: 2697-4126

Abstract/Notes: To explore the effectiveness of acupressure and Montessori-based activities in decreasing the agitated behaviors of residents with dementia. A double-blinded, randomized (two treatments and one control; three time periods) cross-over design was used. Six special care units for residents with dementia in long-term care facilities in Taiwan were the sites for the study. One hundred thirty-three institutionalized residents with dementia. Subjects were randomized into three treatment sequences: acupressure-presence-Montessori methods, Montessori methods-acupressure-presence and presence-Montessori methods-acupressure. All treatments were done once a day, 6 days per week, for a 4-week period. The Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, Ease-of-Care, and the Apparent Affect Rating Scale. After receiving the intervention, the acupressure and Montessori-based-activities groups saw a significant decrease in agitated behaviors, aggressive behaviors, and physically nonaggressive behaviors than the presence group. Additionally, the ease-of-care ratings for the acupressure and Montessori-based-activities groups were significantly better than for the presence group. In terms of apparent affect, positive affect in the Montessori-based-activities group was significantly better than in the presence group. This study confirms that a blending of traditional Chinese medicine and a Western activities program would be useful in elderly care and that in-service training for formal caregivers in the use of these interventions would be beneficial for patients.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02271.x

ISSN: 1532-5415

Abstract/Notes: Background: Increasingly more attention has been paid to non-pharmacological interventions as treatment of agitated behaviors that accompany dementia. The aim of the current study is to test if personalized one-to-one interaction activities based on Montessori principles will improve agitation, affect, and engagement more than a relevant control condition.Methods: We conducted a randomized crossover trial in nine residential facilities in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia (n = 44). Personalized one-to-one activities that were delivered using Montessori principles were compared with a non-personalized activity to control for the non-specific benefits of one-to-one interaction. Participants were observed 30 minutes before, during, and after the sessions. The presence or absence of a selected physically non-aggressive behavior was noted in every minute, together with the predominant type of affect and engagement.Results: Behavior counts fell considerably during both the Montessori and control sessions relative to beforehand. During Montessori activities, the amount of time spend actively engaged was double compared to during the control condition and participants displayed more positive affect and interest as well. Participants with no fluency in English (all from non-English speaking backgrounds) showed a significantly larger reduction in agitation during the Montessori than control sessions.Conclusion: Our results show that even non-personalized social contact can assist in settling agitated residents. Tailoring activities to residents’ needs and capabilities elicit more positive interactions and are especially suitable for people who have lost fluency in the language spoken predominantly in their residential facility. Future studies could explore implementation by family members and volunteers to avoid demands on facilities’ resources.Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry – ACTRN12609000564257.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1017/S1041610212002128

ISSN: 1041-6102, 1741-203X

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