An Overview Of The Montessori Approach In Dementia Care

Taking care of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia is a challenging proposition. Your older adult may be withdrawn and it can be difficult to find an activity or experience to engage with them. Today, many caregivers are incorporating activities based on the Montessori Method. The Montessori Method was developed in the early 20th century and is well-known for being used to successfully engage children, but this approach has also gained immense popularity with caregivers of parents and senior loved ones with dementia.

The Montessori Method places an emphasis on engaging the senses of hearing, seeing, touching, smelling and tasting in an attempt to help seniors with the disease find ways to reconnect with the world. The method can reduce anxiety for people with dementia by providing them with engaging activities (activities are simple, modifiable, and practical), giving them the strength to cope with everyday life.

The Montessori approach stresses giving older adults a simple activity with everyday items, and allowing the person with dementia to complete the task. Caregivers can increase the difficulty if the task seems too easy. It’s advised caregivers must evaluate their older adult’s abilities and skills, along with their own unique needs and wants. Dementia (symptoms) manifests differently in different individuals, which means not one-size-fits-all, so the activities must not be standard and uniform. Completing a task can lead to a sense of accomplishment, while they get to reconnect with an aspect of their personal history.

Montessori techniques for seniors living with dementia can help them rediscover the world around them via hands-on activities, music and art therapy, sensory experiences developed around physical-cognitive exercise, and other modalities that set their muscle and long-term memory going. Some examples of the Montessori process to help with dementia include

1.      Folding a pile of clean towels

2.      Matching and folding a basket of clean socks

3.      Reading books aloud in a small group

4.      Working on puzzles like matching words with objects or identifying famous landmarks

5.      Building objects from blocks

6.      Organizing household or office items

Tips to integrate the Montessori Method for a loved one with dementia:

1.      Cognitive activities can be performed in a variety of different exercises, such as incorporating discussions about current events, and other brain challenges for loved ones depending on one’s ability. You can also incorporate your older adult’s skills, history, and background into life skills activities, for example, if your loved one was an avid gardener, you can plan an activity like sorting or planting seeds, which can help revive memories from their younger days; for those who were homemakers, activities such as baking, folding clothes, or household chores are a good idea.

2.      Sensory activities can be instrumental in keeping the entire mind alert. For example, for smell ask your beloved to identify the scent by placing some scented candles with aromas like citrus, lavender, cherry or vanilla.

3.      Music is another very effective way to engage those with dementia. Some good group bonding activities include listening to music, identifying songs, dancing with groups, and singing along with others, which can be useful and rewarding. Socialization is equally important which allows them to interact with others and share experiences.

Summing everything up, people with dementia, as well as their loved ones can reap immense benefits from the Montessori Method. Not only are the activities easy to set up and tailored to an individual’s needs (skillset), but the activities can also be customized from a person’s background, occupations and hobbies. 

At Anthem Senior Living in Phoenix AZ, all our activities are centered on the physical and emotional well-being of residents, by creating a stimulating environment that provides invaluable benefits for the mind, body and spirit of the seniors.