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"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

– Maya Angelou

Greetings!

Sometimes redirecting a person with dementia backfires.

As a care partner, you may have tried the exhausting process of addressing a behavior, failing, and coming back to try something new over and over. Then someone else waltzes in and the person with dementia reacts more positively with them. Feeling defeated, you may come to the conclusion that since the person has dementia, they are irrational or unpredictable. However, that is not the case. Persons with dementia still process information to draw conclusions about the world like everyone else.

For example, if a care partner unintentionally made the person with dementia feel frustrated with each interaction, they may come to associate this care partner with feelings of distrust even if they don't remember why. Read about the research behind this in our blog HERE.

Think Like a Detective
The "why" when investigating a behavior cannot be "because they have dementia." To get into detective mode, listen to our new audiobook of "Hiding the Stranger in the Mirror." It is full of real-life stories narrated by Dr. Camp himself. Learn more HERE.

Keep Reading For More
  • Activity Ideas & Resources
  • NEW: Montessori Mini Lessons
  • Webinar: Validation World Congress
  • Dementia Myths: "It doesn't matter because they won't remember anyway"
  • Training and Product Updates - New CEU course and new audiobook!
  • Partner Spotlight: The Hickman
  • Newly Credentialed Communities
Activity Ideas & Resources
MONTESSORI PRINCIPLE #1 - The activity should have a sense of purpose and capture interest. Engaging persons with dementia requires that we know the person. Who are they? What do they enjoy now? What did they enjoy in the past? What is meaningful to them? Ask the person and give them choices.

"I'll tell you where you can put your paintbrush!"
At one community, a gentleman rarely attended activities. When asked if he would like to try painting, he refused and "politely" let staff know what they could do with their paintbrush! However, as a former plumber, when they asked the gentleman to help with a leaky pipe, he sprung into action. This story demonstrates the importance of offering activities that match an individual's interests, which is one of our 12 Key Montessori Principles. Scroll down for information on our NEW online course exploring each of the principles, or click here for course information.
Tool Box Sort
This sorting activity can be adapted to fit different interests (fishing tackle box, purse, briefcase, etc.). Consider if a task can have a greater purpose. Could the person work with the maintenance department or a handyman to organize a toolbox or clean tools? Use templates with photos in the compartments of the toolbox or on a pegboard to place tools where they belong.
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Find these and other activities ideas on our Free Resources page. 
Browse activity manuals and other books in our Online Shop.
Watch these bite-sized videos below from Dr. Shelton on easy ways to use Montessori-based practices to engage a person with dementia.
How do I get my loved one with dementia to remember my name?
Activities should be purposeful, not just entertainment. Here's why.
Validation World Congress 2023
WEBINAR | Tuesday, February 21st, 12-4pm EST
Person-Centered Care Methods Rooted in Empathy
Person-centered care, rooted in empathy, enables care partners and care providers to understand the unique needs of individuals experiencing changes in cognitive ability. This session explores ways to create a validating atmosphere that promotes well-being.

Earn up to 3 free CEUs!
RECOMMENDED PRE-READ:
"Teaching Empathy and Conflict Resolution to People with Dementia"
This easy to follow guide offers professional and family care partners tools to help persons living with dementia resolve conflicts and take a more proactive role in their own care.
UNPACKING DEMENTIA MYTHS:
“It Doesn’t Matter Because They Won’t Remember Anyway.”
If you are a memory care professional, you’ve likely heard this expression before. Maybe the thought has even crossed your own mind at some point in your experience providing care for a person with dementia. The idea, of course, is that slip-ups or shortcuts in the way we provide care or interact with persons with dementia can be forgiven because the person likely won’t remember the instance anyway. Let’s take a few minutes to unpack this myth.
Training & Product Updates
New Audiobook Narrated by Dr. Cameron Camp
In "Hiding the Stranger in the Mirror," readers act as detectives and are given the tools to understand why persons with dementia do what they do, and how to solve their own cases. More importantly, the stories lead the reader to new ideas, new ways of thinking, and a new attitude towards persons with dementia. Learn more HERE.
NEW CEU-APPROVED COURSE
12 Key Principles of the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle®

Explore each of the 12 Montessori principles that can give persons living with (or without) dementia a more meaningful and fulfilling life. Discover practical applications of the principles through real-world examples with Dr. Cameron Camp and Gary Johnson.

This course is currently approved for up to 12 hours for:
  • Administrators (NAB)
  • Recreational therapists (NCTRC)
  • Occupational therapists (Ohio OTPTAT)
  • Nursing professionals (CEUnetwork)
  • Care managers (NACCM)
  • Speech-Language Pathologists (Ohio SHP)
  • Activity professionals (NCCAP) - pending 
  • see full approval list in the link
Partner Spotlight: The Hickman
"What the hand does, the mind remembers." - Maria Montessori

How can we prepare the environment for residents living with dementia to unlock long-preserved abilities? Here's an example from our Bronze level certified friends at The Hickman.
The Hickman's Community Life Co-Manager, Stacey Farrell, loves to leave musical instruments around the activities room. The piano is easily accessible to their memory care residents. These purposeful activities help form what is known in the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® method of learning as a cognitive ramp, providing tools or opportunities to create an extended memory. Stacey remarked, “It [the piano] acts as a cognitive ramp for her at this moment...she saw it, it was easy to get to, and she took an instinctive chance at playing it! It was a success!!"
Congratulations!
New Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® Credentialed Communities
These communities have earned new Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® Credential levels through their commitment to Montessori values and raising the bar for person-centered care.
Villa Palazzo Senior Living Community's Montessori-based memory care community provides high-quality personalized memory care to residents living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Their emphasis on physical and cognitive abilities brings dignity and a sense of purpose to each resident. Group engagement programs help to establish social roles and create a sense of belonging, while singular care plans encourage personal choice and autonomy.
Friendship Village has always been known for its superb amenities & services, and their Memory Care program in Chesterfield is now Gold credentialed. They empower residents to participate in the activities which shape their lives by keeping them engaged, happy and healthy. In these communities with a welcoming, neighborhood feel, the focus is on dignity, quality of life, personal growth and safety. Friendship Village is a faith-based, not-for-profit organization that has been setting the standard for senior services in Greater St. Louis for over 45 years.
The Lodge at The Lakes at Stillwater in Stillwater, MN, is a life-enriching community managed by The Goodman Group that brings generations together through innovative services and programs. Team members at the community deliver on the promise that each resident will have the opportunity to lead a vibrant, purposeful life where dreams come true. Visit their community to see for yourself.
ArchCare cares for people of all ages and faiths where they are most comfortable and best able to receive it – at home, in the community and in nursing homes. ArchCare at Ferncliff Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in historic Rhinebeck, New York, is home of the Center for Advanced Memory Care.

Residents at The Hickman Friends Senior Community in West Chester, PA, are treated with respect and compassion. Stimulating daily activities, family-style dining, and a beautiful enclosed garden are all designed to enhance engagement with others and quality of life. Guided by Quaker principles and traditions that value all life and welcome diversity, The Hickman offers individualized care allowing older adults the opportunity to enjoy a productive life and to explore the richness of all of life’s possibilities.
Manoir Soleil Centre D'Accueil located in Quebec, Canada, offers a pleasant living environment, in which care and support are tailored according to the needs of each person. The care team at Manoir Soleil makes the well-being of seniors a priority, while respecting the values ​​and experience of each individual resident.
Manoir Soleil is the first International Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® Credentialed Community!
Credentialing of Manoir Soleil was supported by Montessori Alzheimer Center, our licensed training partners in Canada.
Read more about the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® community credentialing process HERE, or send an email to jamie@cen4ard.com to learn how your care community can deliver the pinnacle of person-centered care through a Montessori-based approach.
34194 Aurora Road #182
Solon, OH 44139
We'd Love to Hear From You!
Please reach out to us at info@cen4ard.com with feedback or questions you may have.

Sincerely,
—The Team at CARD