Understanding Sequencing Difficulties in Dementia: The trouble may be just getting started. -A person with dementia may have trouble carrying out familiar tasks because the brain can no longer process sequences — the ordered steps that make up an activity. Sequencing is what allows someone to know that before making tea, you must first fill the kettle, then boil…
Understanding the Four Types of Dementia Care Settings – When it comes to caring for individuals with dementia, the environment in which they receive care plays a critical role in their overall well-being. Dr. Cameron Camp, a leading expert in dementia care, has described four distinct types of care settings: prison, hospital, hotel and home. Each of these settings has…
Understanding a Resident’s Rhythm – Every individual lives by a personal rhythm — the natural flow of how they move through a day and a life. It’s shaped by decades of habits, preferences, and patterns that create comfort and predictability. For one person, mornings begin with a newspaper and quiet reflection; for another, the day doesn’t truly start until coffee…
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…
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…
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….
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…
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…
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,…
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…
In memory care, one of the most common breakdowns is social recognition. The breakdown…
This may be uncomfortable to read—and even more uncomfortable to recognize in ourselves. It’s…
