Program Overview
Montessori Community for Elders
Welcome to the page about MINT’s Montessori Community for Elders, a groundbreaking adult day program for Elders and their Care Partners. Our program is dedicated to fostering independence, dignity, and joy in the daily lives of older adults. Our approach is inspired by the Montessori philosophy, traditionally applied in early childhood education, yet profoundly effective and transformative for eldercare. By focusing on individual strengths, interests, and needs, we create a nurturing environment where every elder can thrive.
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MINT’s Day Program meets once a week and provides elders and their care partners with a thoughtfully prepared environment that stimulates the senses, supports activities of daily living, and offers a place to practice skills, share interests and hobbies, and find meaningful ways to contribute and live with purpose and joy.
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Designed to accompany Care Partners outside of the community environment and support them in understanding and utilizing Montessori Principles and Practices with their partner at home or in another community. This eight-module, online, self-guided course covers the Montessori approach, Activities to keep their partner engaged, Responsive behaviors and Communication, and the special role of the Care Partner.
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We offer individualized in-home consultations, where we work one-on-one with you and your loved one, to adapt your home environment to apply Montessori principles and practices.
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Following a visit and time to observe your community, we can offer guidance on ways to incorporate the Montessori approach to elder care, bringing more joy, independence, and possibility into your community.
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Twice a year we host Brush Development’s transformative “From Can’t to Can Do!” two-day introductory workshop to Montessori for Aging, Disability and Dementia at MINT. We can create introductory workshops and presentations for groups upon request.
Core Principles
Person-Centered Care
Our program is deeply rooted in the belief that each individual possesses unique capabilities and potential throughout their life. We prioritize personalized care, tailoring activities and support to align with each elder's personal history, preferences, and abilities.
Promoting Independence
We empower elders to engage in meaningful activities that enhance their autonomy. By providing opportunities for choice and encouraging self-directed learning, we help maintain and support cognitive and physical abilities.
Relationships of Respect and Dignity
Every interaction within our community is guided by respect and dignity. We honor the life experiences of our elders, fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding that positively impacts their well-being.
Program Features
Engaging Activities
Our daily schedule is rich with diverse activities designed to stimulate the mind, body, and spirit. From art and music to gardening and activities of daily living, our activities are tailored to foster connection, joy, and a sense of purpose.
Do you enjoy…
Embroidery, knitting, weaving, or sewing
Woodworking
Music
Travel
Areas of Exploration
Our center has activities organized into the following areas
Activities of Daily Living:
Personal Care- skin care and makeup, hair care, dressing frames, dress up, shoe polishing, toileting
Care of the Environment- sweeping, dusting, mopping, laundry, polishing
Plant Care- watering the plants, gardening in the atrium
Food Preparation- water, coffee, tea, and fruit can be made and shared at any time that individual snack preparation is offered. Communal Meal Preparation is offered each day. Activities and roles include: chopping vegetables, menu planning, setting the table, and cooking the meal.
Sensorial Experiences:
Engaging all of the senses, especially as we know that our senses decline as we age.
A variety of materials that allow us to work with our senses, practicing with and reviving our sense of touch, taste, smell, sound, and sight.
Manipulatives to practice sorting, grading, qualities like volume, height, weight, and geometric shapes
Smelling jars, touch tablets, tasting work- these activities often spark joy and reminiscing
Sound cylinders, bells, and a listening station
Language:
Reading is a preserved skill, and we can utilize it throughout the program. A reading nook is available with dementia-friendly literature, and sets of language cards are throughout the room. These are sets of images with a description on the back. The themes of the sets vary from leaves, tools, or household objects to more complex sets that cover a continent, famous artists, or baseball players. They are wonderful prompts, sparking memories and offering plenty of interesting themes to discuss and explore.
Self Expression and Art:
Drawing, painting, collage, clay, and sewing activities are always available. Elders are encouraged to bring their own projects as well.
Hobbies, Games, Puzzles:
We offer a variety of board games and puzzles, and encourage you to bring your favorites! We have an area dedicated to working with tools and plenty of space to share and add other hobbies and interests here as well.
Communal Dining Experiences
One of the most engaging opportunities we provide is the opportunity for elders to prepare, set up, cook, and enjoy a communal lunch.
We often find that for elders who are more reluctant to eat, or could benefit from additional supports to encourage eating; that participating in the preparation of their favorite meals can be motivating, satisfying, and fun!
Our Community and Environment
Our environment is thoughtfully designed to be beautiful, welcoming, safe, and accessible, encouraging exploration and interaction.
Designed with an elder’s changing needs over time in mind, we offer a variety of specialized activities. For those experiencing cognitive challenges, these activities are designed to support memory retention, cognitive function, and emotional well-being through consistent routines and engaging exercises.
Care Partners learn through their time in the environment, ways to support their elder in the home or other settings.
Join Our Community
The Montessori Community for Elders is a day program that meets once a week, offering elders and their Care Partners an enriching community in which to engage in purposeful activities in our beautifully prepared Montessori environment. We invite you to experience this refreshing and empowering approach. Whether you are a family member, caregiver, or elder yourself, we welcome you to visit and explore how our program can enrich your life and the lives of those you care about.
Let’s get in touch!
Send an email to Melissa Crenshaw, Director of the Community Casa at MINT.