In the case of memory care, this translates into creating what we call “resident-driven” communities. In such a model, residents retain control of their day-to-day existence. For example, residents choose where they would like to go for outings, how to greet new residents and integrate them into their community, what they would like for entertainment, what social causes to support, what rituals to perform when a resident passes away, what activities they prefer and on what schedule, etc. Residents help prepare meals, clean up after meals, take care of their environments, lead activities for other residents, and care for each other.

This is done through adopting a rehabilitation model of care, rather than a medical model. In a rehabilitation model, the capabilities of the person are emphasized rather than deficits. It is assumed that persons with dementia are normal individuals with some cognitive disabilities. As a result, they are not considered to be “mentally ill patients” who must be “treated” through medical intervention for their “disease.” 

Instead, the role of care partners becomes one of fostering as much independence as possible, through creating physical and social environments to enable persons to circumvent their deficits as well as to regain capacities lost due to exposure to toxic social environments (which produce excess deficit.) The capacity of persons with dementia to learn, and the techniques which enable new learning to take place in these persons, is a distinguishing feature of this model.

The Montessori Inspired Lifestyle requires a shift in the fundamental assumptions about the role of care partners and the roles residents will have within their communities. Owners, executives, managers, line staff, families and residents themselves must undergo a change in perspective. Rather than a hospital or hotel model, the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle approach is based on a model of a home. 

What do persons with dementia want? The key word in that sentence is “persons.” Most persons with dementia want what persons without dementia want – to live in a home surrounded by their things, to have a reason to get out of bed and to look forward to the day, to know their neighbors and to be called by name by them, to be part of a community that is connected to the outside world, and to have meaningful roles that enable them to feel fulfilled and to be of service to others.

It is easy to create dependence, and to do so out of love. This is seen in a parent that does everything for their child. However, this does not necessarily provide a good life for the child or the parent. The same is true for all persons. No one wants to live in a hospital. People generally do not live in a hotel. You stay in a hotel until it is time to go home.

 The memory care resident staying in a beautiful building who stands at the door of the residence and says “I want to go home” is expressing the same feeling that we get when we reach the end of a vacation. The best intervention for this situation is to make the place where that resident is living feel like a home. 

In a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® community, staff members are invited to take our Montessori Pledge. The first line of the pledge states “I will work to create a place where I would want to live.” We believe that this must become the industry standard for memory care neighborhoods. This is our mission.

Cameron J. Camp, PhD, is the Director of Research & Development at the Center for Applied Research in Dementia. With over three decades of dedication to the applied and translational research of gerontology, dementia intervention, and cognitive intervention, he has earned international renown for his work to improve the quality of life for persons with dementia and memory disorders.

Charles de Vilmorin is the CEO and co-founder of Linked Senior.

The opinions expressed in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News guest submissions are the author’s and are not necessarily those of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News or its editors.

Have a column idea? See our submission guidelines here.

By any objective measure, the medical approach to dementia has been a monumental failure. This should not come as a shock to anyone who has been listening to statements that “a cure is five years away” for the last 30 years. It is time to fully commit to a departure from a mechanistic, reductionistic, disease-based view of dementia to a humanized, rehabilitation-based one. It is time to embrace the concept of person-centered care truly and completely. 

How shall this be done? What is a good path to this future?

On Dec. 6, 2022, Linked Senior hosted an International Montessori for Dementia conference. What was the focus of this conference, and why was it so important to attend? To people who have been care partners of persons living with dementia, especially activity professionals, this conference was both insightful and a call to action.

At the conference, speakers from France described the effects of implementing Montessori approaches in dementia care. Participants heard about the transformative effects of engagement, self-determination and a sense of community when provided for persons living with dementia. 

It is interesting to note that in France the job title of the activity professional is “Animator” – one who brings people to life. Communities trained first by speakers and their colleagues have residents in memory care who: greet new residents to their communities; interview perspective staff members; decide how they wish to commemorate the passing of their neighbors; give presentations to conferences of physicians on what life is like in their communities; learn new skills such a playing the piano; get the opportunity to hang glide over the Mediterranean Sea; etc. 

You might be thinking to yourself at this point, “I bet their residents are different than mine.” That probably is true – these residents in France have more advanced dementia than most of your residents.

In the second presentation, Dr. Cameron Camp, Director of Research and Development at the Center for Applied Research in Dementia, described research on this topic and its translation into care practice here in the United States. 

Concrete examples were provided of how memory care residents stay connected with each other and with the outside world. Persons living with dementia want what persons without dementia want – to live in a home where they have choice; connection with their neighbors; connection with their families; a sense of community; engagement in meaningful activities; connection with the larger world; and something to look forward to in the future. Creating communities that provide these opportunities was the emphasis of the presentation.

The third presentation emphasized the universality of the Montessori approach, applying its values and principles to staff members. Again, it is important to emphasize the strengths of staff members rather than focusing on their weaknesses. A sense of community and trust must be established among staff members to enable them to apply Montessori approaches to residents. 

In addition, the best training possible given to staff is wasted if turnover is high. Now more than ever, a Montessori approach to engaging and empowering staff members is needed. Examples of methods to achieve these things and the results obtained by doing so, such as increased staff retention, were outlined. 

You can watch recordings of each of the three sessions here. 

There is no drug that can provide a good quality of life for persons living with dementia. That is our responsibility. When a resident living with dementia has “a good day,” often this is viewed as a random event outside of the control of staff members. That is not true. The environments we create for persons living with dementia determine what type of days these persons (and those who provide care for them) have. 

We are not helpless in the face of dementia. Persons with dementia can live well or suffer, as is true for staff members, depending on what they experience during their days. It is time to reject a model of dementia that fosters suffering. It is time to say “enough.” It is time to take a new path. Watch the recording of our webinar and see for yourself what is possible. Come to join a revolution.

Cameron Camp, Ph.D., originally developed the use of the Montessori method as an intervention for use with persons with dementia. He is a noted psychologist specializing in applied research in gerontology, and currently serves as Director of Research and Development for the Center for Applied Research in Dementia. Dr. Camp gives workshops on designing cognitive and behavioral interventions for dementia internationally, and is a recipient of the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Applied Research.

Charles de Vilmorin is the CEO and co-founder of Linked Senior.

The opinions expressed in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News guest submissions are the author’s and are not necessarily those of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News or its editors.