Montessori Supports Regulatory and Quality Goals

Montessori Dementia Care: Raising Quality, Meeting Standards – Across Canada, long-term care and retirement communities are expected to show more than compassionate intent — they must provide measurable proof of quality, compliance, and improved resident outcomes. Provincial frameworks from coast to coast share the same priorities: dignity, independence, engagement, and reduction of responsive behaviors. Montessori-based dementia care naturally supports these…

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Montessori Activities Aren’t Just Crafts or Distractions

In Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® dementia care, activities are valuable opportunities for engagement — not just “crafts” or “distractions.” They’re moments that connect, calm, and build confidence. But roles take that engagement one step further. They give people a sense of purpose, belonging, and identity. The difference is subtle but profound: it’s the difference between doing something meaningful and being someone…

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Say “Yes” as Often as Possible

We always encourage caregivers to say “yes” as often as possible. And there’s a reason for that… When the Chicks Came to Visit: The surprising power of a thoughtful “yes.” It began with a simple suggestion: “What if we brought baby chicks into the home?” The idea came from a staff member who wasn’t focused on policies or paperwork….

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Multiple Medications are Not Unusual

Polypharmacy — the use of multiple medications at the same time, often five or more — is one of the most pressing challenges in dementia care today. For residents living in long-term care or retirement communities, polypharmacy is not unusual.  Many have multiple chronic conditions: diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, depression, insomnia. Each condition can add another pill to the daily…

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Small Roles, Big Impact

Small Roles, Big Impact: Montessori in Dementia Care – For people living with dementia, purpose doesn’t come from large responsibilities — it comes from small, everyday contributions that matter to their community. In long-term care and retirement residences, these roles may look simple to outsiders, but to the individual, they bring dignity, connection, and belonging. One woman takes pride in…

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Where the Money Is Made with Montessori Inspired Lifestyle®

Where the Money Is Made with Montessori Inspired Lifestyle®: The Canadian Business Case You Can’t Ignore Let’s be direct. Running a long-term care home or retirement residence in Canada is not only about care delivery and compliance. It is about business survival in an increasingly scrutinized and competitive environment. Yes, you are already tracking clinical KPIs like falls, hospitalizations,…

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Person-Centered Care vs Person-Led Care

In dementia care, person-centered care is the internationally recognized best practice. It means seeing each individual beyond their diagnosis, valuing their history and preferences, and shaping care around their identity and abilities.- Some propose calling it “person-led care.” While this sounds progressive, it risks confusion: many people with dementia — especially in moderate and later stages — cannot reliably “lead” their own…

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Building Cognitive Ramps in Dementia Care

Cognitive Ramps – Seeing Dementia as a Disability, Not Just a Disease: When someone uses a wheelchair, we don’t expect them to “overcome” stairs. We build a ramp. Yet when someone lives with dementia, too often the burden is placed on the person to compensate for memory loss, confusion, or language difficulties. What if we treated dementia the same…

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Do You Know These 3 Pillars?

3 Pillars of Purposeful Dementia Engagement: A Montessori Approach to Meaningful Care ♦  It’s easy to assume that a busy resident is an engaged resident — but real connection comes from purposeful experiences, not just activity. True engagement isn’t about keeping people occupied; it’s about connecting them to who they are, what they value, and what they’re still capable…

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Between Two Worlds: Supporting the Moderate Stage of Dementia

In the moderate stage of dementia, people often remain aware of what’s happening both around them and within them. They may feel the loss of ability, sense their limitations, and wrestle with the tension between what they once could do and what they now struggle to manage. This awareness brings emotional pain, fear, frustration, and confusion—not just symptoms but…

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