 Montessori Approach with Dementia
Remember it takes 30 seconds for a person with dementia to respond to a question. Maria Montessori was a children’s educator. Using principles she pioneered she demonstrated that learning takes place through independent movement, with an emphasis on repetitive, step learning allowing time to foster concentration and build self-worth. The prepared environment provides the support and materials required that can be used to maintain or enhance abilities, self-confidence and independence. It provides opportunities for social roles. Materials are familiar to the individual and aesthetically pleasing and activities are fun and meaningful. These principles can be applied to people with dementia and Alzheimers. |  Be with me today.
A person centered approach that we adopt in Montessori looks at the individual needs holistically, maaintaining and enhancing personhood. Each individual must be considered as a whole with every aspect of the individual equally important, physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual. People need indepedence (unnecessary help is an obstacle), respect (eye contact, policteness, slow movements, accept choices made), purpose (functional tasks) and consistency (systems and routines). Person centered approach (Kitwood & Brooker, 2019) is seeing people as VIP's. V = valuing people as a person who deserves to be recognised and respected. I = individual care as each person is unique and has their own particular abilities and needs. P = perspective. What do my actions, words, body language look like, sound like or feel like from their perspective? S = social. How socially supporting is the environment for the person living with dementia. |
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