Montessori for Aging and Dementia Two-Day Workshop

Who should attend? Care providers, educators, family members who want to improve their quality of elder care using a dementia care best practices and a Montessori approach for aging and dementia

Day One: Monday, October 9, 2017 - 8:30am to 5:00pm

Day Two: Tuesday, October 10, 2017 - 8:00am to 12:00pm

Montessori for Aging and Dementia is an innovative approach to dementia care that can be adopted for individuals or groups as a philosophy of care. The goal of the Montessori program is to support people living with dementia by creating a prepared environment, filled with cues and memory supports, that enables individuals to care for themselves, others, and their community so that they may live as independently as possible. This two-day program focuses on the Montessori for Aging and Dementia program criteria as established by the AMI. Participants will receive handouts, a copy of the book I Care: A Handbook for Care Partners of People with Dementia and certificate of completion from AMI.

The Montessori approach enhances quality of life for people living with dementia by creating an environment in which they can succeed. Roles, routines and activities are developed for each individual, which are meaningful to that person – giving each person the opportunity to enjoy an enriched life. Individuals living in a Montessori community do as much for themselves and others as possible, rather than having things done to them or for them.

Attend this two-day workshop a workshop and learn to create meaningful activities and roles by:

• Focusing on the person, not the dementia.
• Matching strengths and abilities with personal history.
• Fostering social connections and friendships.
• Developing routines that build confidence and self-esteem
• Providing cues, prompts, materials and templates to support the person's memory loss.

DAY 1: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Section I: A Life with Meaning and Purpose

• Maintaining personhood
• Individualized assessments
• Retaining life roles

Section II: Montessori for All Ages

• Who was Dr. Maria Montessori?
• What is the Montessori philosophy of education?
• From the classroom to the aged care center

Section III: See the Person, Not the Disease

• Understanding the impact of dementia
• Living with a neurocognitive disorder

Section IV: Memories in the Making

• How memory works
• How we learn
• How to make a memory book

Section V: Let's Talk

• Communication challenges and dementia
• Tips for effective communication

Section VI: Let's Get Busy

• Help me help myself
• Fostering independence

DAY 2 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Section VII: See the World Through Their Eyes

• Using observation skills
• Behaviors as a form of communication

Section VIII: These Four Walls

• Creating a prepared environment
• Design guidelines for aging and dementia

Section IX: Creative Connections

• What art?
• Recipes for success

Section X: Spaced Retrieval Step by Step

• Learning is possible in dementia
• Why Spaced Retrieval works
• Implementing the evidence based memory strategy

Section XI: Montessori Demonstrations

• Lessons given by Montessori guides
• Opportunities for student practice
• Setting up Montessori spaces in aged care

Section XII: A Community of Caring

• Putting Montessori into action
• Developing Teams
• Leaving your comfort zone
• Students present case studies and write an action plan