The Montessori method of teaching was created in the early 20th century as a way to balance a child’s abilities and needs with opportunities for learning and achievement. The approach focuses on providing a series of activities or lessons that engage all of the senses. This is why the Montessori approach is now gaining popularity among Alzheimer’s caregivers.
Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional home caregivers who provide high-quality in-home care. Trust Align Home Care Services to help your elderly loved one age in place safely and comfortably.
How the Montessori Method Applies to Alzheimer’s
The key to effective Alzheimer’s care is to provide seniors with multiple opportunities to reconnect with skills and memories they’ve lost access to. The Montessori method effectively does this by creating sensory experiences through art, music, and/or physical activities. These cognitively stimulating activities help seniors with dementia recall positive emotions and events and can even assist in encoding new information in long-term memory. For example, encouraging your loved one to arrange fresh flowers in a vase can help him or her recall the joy of a pleasant spring day or trigger a long-term memory of a time he or she received a bouquet of flowers from someone special.
There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional senior care. Portland families can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep their loved ones safe and comfortable while aging in place.
Putting the Montessori Method into Practice
By encouraging your loved one to participate in familiar activities he or she used to enjoy, you’ll provide him or her with vital mental stimulation and a sense of accomplishment. The following are examples of simple ways you can incorporate the Montessori method into your loved one’s daily life:
- Allow your loved one to fold a basket of laundry
- If your loved one enjoyed cooking, allow him or her to help you with dinner preparation
- If your loved one was handy around the house, provide him or her with a box of plastic plumbing fixtures he or she can connect together or a set of plastic tools your loved one can use to “fix” things around the home
For reliable Alzheimer’s care, Portland families can turn to Align Home Care Services. We are a leading provider of professional memory care designed to help seniors maintain a higher quality of life. In addition to Alzheimer’s care, we also provide comprehensive dementia, Parkinson’s, and stroke care. From revolutionary care programs to compassionate and dedicated caregivers, we can meet all of your Alzheimer’s care needs. Trust Align Home Care to provide high-quality compassionate professional care for your loved one. Call one of our friendly Care Managers today at (207) 835-3490.