Montessori
Cameron Camp, director of the Myers Research Institute, began looking at the Montessori method as a way of helping Alzheimer's patients some 10 years ago. The Montessori method, developed for young children, is rooted in the senses, and involves manipulating everyday objects and following highly structured activities that engage children but rarely allow them to fail. Camp adapted these activities for Alzheimer's patients, tailoring them to the individual's background and interests. You can read about the program and its success in improving the quality of life for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers in a number of online articles:
http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/longterm/Articles/alzheimer.html
http://www.providermagazine.com/pdf/cover-12-2005.pdf (pdf document)
http://www.nursinghomesmagazine.com/Past_Issues.htm?ID=3815
http://www.vcu.edu/vcoa/ageaction/AGEfa03.htm
Below are several manuals co-written by Cameron Camp. You can also read about these books at the Myers Research Institute site at http://www.myersresearch.org/manuals.html and listen to radio interviews given by Dr Camp at http://www.myersresearch.org/media.html
A Montessori Program is also now used at Truman Medical Center Lakewood for its Alzheimer residents. The program focuses on Montessori activities that will help each resident continue to be independent as long as possible. You can read about it here: http://www.trumed.org/sections/content.aspx?id=217&SID=92
References
- Camp, C.J., Foss, J.W., O'Hanlon, A.M. & Stevens, A.B. 1996. Memory Interventions for Persons with Dementia. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 10(3), 193-210.
- Camp, C.J., Judge, K.S., Bye, C.A., Fox, K.M., Bowden, J.,
Bell, M., Valencic, K., & Mattern, J.M. 1997. An
intergenerational program for persons with dementia using
Montessori methods. The Gerontologist, 37(5), 688-692.
http://www.k-state.edu/peak/ResearchtoPracticeArticles/researchpractice090804.htm - Orsulic-Jeras, S., Schneider, N.M., Camp, C.J., Nicholson,
P. & Helbig, M. 2001. Montessori-Based Dementia Activities
in Long-Term Care: Training and Implementation. Activities,
Adaptation & Aging, 25(3/4), 107-119.
http://www.k-state.edu/peak/ResearchtoPracticeArticles/researchpractice111504.htm - Orsulic-Jeras, S., Judge, K.S. & Camp, C.J. 2000. Montessori-based activities for long-term care residents with advanced dementia: effects on engagement and affect. The Gerontologist, 40(1), 107-112.
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