Memory Care Resources & Support |
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Greetings!
While we can all use a little help sometimes, we also feel dignity and pride in navigating the world on our own. It's a Human Thing®. Maria Montessori recognized the importance of dignity in independence for children, but we can see how it applies to anyone. This month, we look at how visual aids can make life easier for people living with memory loss and maximize their independence and engagement.
Keep reading for more on this Montessori principle, including activities and examples, as well as upcoming events and news from Center from Applied Research in Dementia and our friends.
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This Month’s Key Montessori Principle Is
“Use cues, hints, and templates”
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We can make life easier for ourselves and those in our care with environmental supports. This can be in the form of navigational signs, or ones that indicate where to keep important things (like hearing aids by the bed). What would help someone be able to do more on their own, or to find answers to their questions themselves?
Cues, hints, and templates can be tools for success when used correctly. If someone is held back from being engaged in their environment because of anxiety about something, use an external aid to give them reassurance and free them to enjoy their day. Someone that is constantly concerned about where a family member is, or if they ate a meal already, can learn to find information from a card they keep nearby.
Some responsive behaviors may be a result of frustration, or a lack of engaging activities. Providing support in the form of a template or cue, can give people an opportunity to focus on an activity, and thus find themselves in a normalized environment. Could someone help set a table when a table setting template is available for them to use? A challenging activity could be more accessible with a little visual aid or guide. Something as simple as nametags could help someone move past the discomfort or embarrassment of "I should know their name," and into more productive or enjoyable activities.
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These events are open to the public. Internal training sessions for communities and companies are also available. Reach out to joe.caracci@cen4ard.com to discuss training opportunities for your team.
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Wednesday, July 25th, 2021
2:00-3:00pm EST
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This month, we explore how to use cues, hints, and templates for the benefit of both residents and staff of care communities, as part of our monthly series with Dr. Cameron Camp and Gary Johnson.
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Did you miss any of our previous webinars in the series and want to catch up? Recordings of past webinars are now available to purchase. Click here to see the catalog or email sjohnson@monarch-pathways.com for more information.
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Next Webinar: Huddles
Tuesday, July 13th, 2021
1:00-3:00pm EST
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ON SALE NOW - only $25 (50% off)
2 CEUs approved for select professions
The importance of communication cannot be overstated when we have people depending on the care we provide. In the Huddles Deep Dive webinar, you'll learn to help your team communicate critical information more effectively, by applying Montessori principles.
Catch the full Montessori for Leadership Series starting again in August 2021, including the 6-hour Leadership Bootcamp and 2-hour Learning Circles and Appreciative Inquiry deep dive webinars.
Register for the Huddles Deep Dive webinar on July 13th, or any of our upcoming leadership training events, at
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Activity Ideas And Inspiration |
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We have selected these activities and resources to demonstrate the use of cues, hints, and templates.
Browse activity manuals and other books in our Online Shop.
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Here’s an activity to encourage intergenerational social interaction or enjoyed one-on-one with a caregiver, as well as offer motor skill practice. Our international friends can make a version using their own country’s flag, or a flag that is meaningful to the person. The use of a template supports independence and success in this task. |
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Reminder Cue Cards
External memory aids can reduce anxiety and support people with memory loss. Here are a few that can be customized to meet an individual’s needs. Determine the correct size by asking the individual who will use it to read the card, making the font larger if necessary. Laminate cards for reuse to reduce waste. The message on the cards should be meaningful to the person using them, possibly written in their own voice. Be sure to have the person practice using the card. For example, when they ask if they took their medication, a care partner can say, “Let’s check the card and see”. Over time, the person will check the card on their own without needing to ask someone else.
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Residents The Goodman Group communities use this card attached to a walker or wheelchair to track their daily medications or insulin. A person can check the appropriate box as they take their medication each time, reducing anxiety about having forgotten to take a dose. Customize the card for specific medications, if that is useful for the person who will use it.
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Some people may be worried about missing a visit from a loved one, and end up missing out on otherwise engaging activities to avoid doing so. A message with the details of the visit can free a person to enjoy an event, knowing there is still time before the visit. Customize the message with the visitor and day/time of visit. |
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Imagine waking up one day and all your clothes were gone with no explanation? This feeling can lead a person with memory loss to believe someone had stolen their clothes, which is a reasonable explanation if you didn’t know that someone had taken them for laundry. A simple note explaining where the clothes are and when they’ll be returned can explain where suddenly missing items are and provide assurance that they’ll be returned. |
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Coming Soon!
Person-Centered Montessori Assessment SystemTM
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There's a better way to create a person-centered care plan, based on preserved abilities, skills, and interests, rather than focusing on what is lost. Because people are more than just a single score.
Person-Centered Montessori Assessment SystemTM
Arriving Summer 2021
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Congratulations! New
Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® Credentials
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We are pleased to announce new credentialing this month for residential communities raising the bar for person-centered care and showing a commitment to Montessori values and care models.
Click the community name to visit their website.
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New Credentialed Community
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News from CARD Friends and Partners |
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DAI "Meeting Of The Minds" July 2021 Webinar
Tuesday, July 28, 2021 (USA/CA/UK/EU)
Wednesday, July 29, 2021 (AU/NZ/ASIA)
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Have you had success using Montessori principles in your care community? We want to promote and feature you! Send your story to us at info@cen4ard.com so we can help inspire more people to join the memory care revolution.
Be well and take care,
Cameron Camp, Vince Antenucci, Nelly Jane Selby,
and the team at Center for Applied Research in Dementia
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Please forward this message to anyone in your network interested in memory care resources or training, or long-term care leaders that want to create a more engaging and safe environment. If you received this message from a friend or colleague, click here to sign up for our mailing list and be sure to add info@cen4ard.com to your "safe senders list".
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