Montessori for Elder and Dementia Care

By Jennifer Brush, M.A., CCC-SLP

ISBN 978-1-938870-89-7
96 pages
8.5 x 11 paper
© 2020

$36.99

Product Description

2021 National Mature Media Awards Winner logoWritten by an international Montessori and dementia expert, this indispensable guide to Montessori for elders makes it possible for any care provider to understand and implement this innovative approach to aging.

Jennifer Brush shows care communities how to create and sustain a team that integrates the Montessori philosophy throughout daily life and successfully promotes elders’ functional skills, independence, and identity. Based on her years as a researcher, clinician, and educator, Brush clearly explains the concepts behind this highly person-centered approach, how to create a prepared environment, and how to increase levels of life engagement for older adults.

Filled with helpful advice, forms, and ready-to-use activities, this thorough guide is essential in implementing the Montessori philosophy with elders or people living with dementia.

Format: E-book
e-ISBN 978-1-956801-02-6

E-book available through:

About the Author and Contributors

Section 1: Introduction

  • Person-Centered Best Practices
  • The Importance of Meaningful Engagement
  • Key Components of a Montessori Community for Aging

Section 2: Meaningful Engagement

  • Reclaiming Previous Roles
  • Individualized Assessments and Meaningful Engagement Plans
  • Practicing Observation
  • Human Tendencies
  • Presenting a New Role or Activity
  • Getting Started with Roles and Activities
  • Getting Started with Montessori Materials
  • Memory Books

Section 3: The Prepared Environment

  • Preparing the Environment
  • Visual Cues
  • Name Tags and Room Signage
  • Preparing the Environment to Meet Elders’ Needs

Section 4: Working as a Team

  • Creating an Interdisciplinary Team
  • Developing an Action Plan
  • Operationalizing New Practices
  • Changing the Culture
  • Leadership Responsibilities for Implementing Montessori
  • Engaging Staff
  • Stages of Change

Section 5: Activity Ideas

  • Cleaning Shoes
  • Embroidery
  • Flower Arranging
  • Food Preparation (Yogurt, Cereal, and Honey)
  • Locks and Keys
  • Metal Insets
  • Nomenclature Cards
  • Nuts and Bolts
  • Polishing Household Items
  • Pouring Beans
  • Pouring Juice for Others
  • Reading
  • Setting the Table
  • Sound Cylinders
  • Sweeping the Carpet
  • Sweeping the Table Crumbs
  • Using a Screwdriver
  • Incorporating the Montessori Principles into All Areas
  • Personal Care—Bathing
  • Care of the Environment—Making the Bed
  • Acknowledgments

Montessori for Elder and Dementia Care (EXCERPT) by Health Professions Press on Scribd

Jennifer BrushJennifer Brush, MA, CCC-SLP, is the Director of Brush Development, USA and the Program Director, Montessori Education for Dementia, St. Nicholas Montessori College, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. Jennifer serves on the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Advisory Board for Montessori for Aging and Dementia, and she is the only AMI Certified Trainer of Trainers for Montessori for Aging and Dementia in the US. Jennifer is the co-author of several nationally recognized books on dementia.

Understanding the particular needs of healthcare organizations and families engaged in dementia care she brings more than 20 years of experience as both a leading researcher and direct-care coach in this complex field. She is a nationally recognized speech-language pathologist known for her work in the areas of memory and environmental interventions for people with dementia. She has served as the principal investigator on applied research grants that examined issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS dementia, hearing impairment, dining, swallowing disorders, and the long-term care environment. Ms. Brush has served as Chair of the Professional Development Committee of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Gerontology Special Interest Division and on the Editorial Review Board of SpeechPathology.com.

Learn more at www.brushdevelopment.com.

4 reviews for Montessori for Elder and Dementia Care

  1. Administrator

    “Jennifer Brush has written the definitive guide on applying Montessori principles in elder care settings. Although the book speaks directly to those considering adopting or expanding this approach to life in their care communities, it is an equally important read for those interested more generally in evidenced-based, person-centered care. While the specific examples offered are first rate and easily implemented, even more compelling is the underlying philosophy described throughout the text. In every chapter, the reader is challenged to think about how to apply the principles to their own unique situations to meet a wide variety of needs. If you want your residents, families, and staff to be participating in purpose-driven, meaningful days, this is the book for you.”
    Bonnie Burman, ScD, President, The Ohio Council for Cognitive Health and former CEO, The Pioneer Network

  2. Administrator

    “Working with Jennifer was a game changer for our community. Her expertise, depth of knowledge, and graciousness guided us into the Montessori philosophy and has forever changed the way we support our elders living with dementia. This book is an exceptional resource to all who want to see elders living rich, meaningful, and purposeful lives.”
    Laura Roy, CEO, Lutheran Senior Life, Passavant Community

  3. Administrator

    Montessori for Elder and Dementia Care is a roadmap for providing person-centered, meaningful engagement. It is a vital key to the implementation of Montessori and will move the senior care industry forward. Brush brings to the table years of research and confirmed failure-free techniques for creating culture change and improving the physical environment.”
    -Lori Presser, CEAL, ACC, CDP, MDEC, volunteer board member of The Northeast Ohio Association of Activity Professionals and The National Certification Council for Activity Professionals

  4. HPP Admin

    Montessori for Elder and Dementia Care by Jennifer A. Brush discusses the most important topics of aging, dementia, and Montessori, and enlightens readers with different ways to transform the elderly community to that of being joyful and happy. The book discusses the Montessori philosophy, which is one way of achieving active participation in life. The philosophy is based on the principles of free choice and purposeful activity and these focus on the well-being of the whole person including physical, spiritual, social, mental, and emotional needs. The author’s experience in the field enables her to clearly explain the techniques of this philosophy and help elderly people and those with dementia to live in an environment where they are happy and peaceful.

    Reading Montessori for Elder and Dementia Care is helpful and useful to all those who are dealing with elderly people in their family and want to make them independent, doing the things that they love with their loved ones in a supportive environment. The Montessori philosophy is a way of living one’s life to the fullest extent possible. Under this philosophy, elders are given the freedom to move within the community and engage in household roles and responsibilities. Jennifer A. Brush tackles the topic deftly and explains it methodically and in detail, making it easy for readers to understand and apply while dealing with the elderly and those with dementia. The author shares Sample Observation Forms, Meaningful Engagement Plans, how to get started with the roles and activities, and other activities that will aid in guiding carers to implement the Montessori philosophy if they are dealing with elders or people living with dementia.”
    Reader’s Favorite®

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