Caring for a loved one with dementia can be a challenging and emotionally draining experience, and one that my family is intimately familiar with as two of my amazing grandparents struggled through Alzheimer’s. It can be extremely difficult to watch someone you love struggle with memory loss and cognitive decline, however, there are innovative approaches to dementia care that prioritize the unique needs and abilities of individuals with the condition.
One approach that I am passionate about is the Montessori method, which is a teaching methodology developed by Maria Montessori in the early 1900’s which emphasizes independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a person’s natural psychological development.
While the Montessori Method was originally developed for children, it has shown great promise in improving the quality of life for individuals with dementia.
Due to personal experience seeing how quality of care can impact individuals with dementia, I am committed to creating and providing beautiful and intentional resources to the community of caretakers who work in dementia care, either at home or in a dedicated facility. I want all of my resources to be affordable and am also aiming to make many of these printables free! As the disease progresses, individuals with dementia may become increasingly dependent on others for their daily needs and, at a certain stage, may be unable to live independently and will rely on others to assist them throughout the day. Quality dementia care rooted in the Montessori philosophy can help maintain a sense of independence for individuals with dementia, while also providing support and assistance as needed.
