Here are the criteria and key milestones for becoming a credentialed Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® Community.
The key to success is building a long-term, sustainable program that fits your community’s culture and environment. Thus, every Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® community is unique.
Criteria and Key Milestones for each Level
BRONZE LEVEL
Staff participants representing all departments attend initial training in Montessori Inspired Lifestyle®.
- Various evaluation assessments are used to guarantee successful application and integration of the Montessori principles.
- Name tags are in use for both staff and residents.
- A minimum of two resident committees have been formed and meet regularly.
- A system is in place for residents to volunteer for purposeful community service activities, e.g., setting and clearing tables, assisting with food preparation, sweeping, dusting, charitable activities, decorating, etc.
- Effective signage and environmental cues are in place.
- MIL values and principles are posted in staff areas.
- Staff regularly participate in MIL huddles to reinforce application of MIL values and principles.
- A Visitor Center has been established to encourage activity-based family visits.
- Multidisciplinary meetings ie: change of shifts – are regularly held to discuss Responsive Behaviors, along with follow-up to determine effects of interventions discussed and implemented. Staff members who deliver personal care as well as staff from a variety of departments such as housekeeping and dining are included in these teams.
- Residents are given choice in dining, activities and daily schedules. (where possible)
- An action plan for moving forward to achieve silver level has been developed.
SILVER LEVEL
Bronze criteria, plus…
- The Community has a Mission Statement and Values Statement that emphasize respect, dignity, and equality as core values.
- Mission Statement and Values Statement emphasize independence and community membership.
- Ongoing training/in-servicing of newly hired staff by credentialed internal trainers.
- Ongoing refresher training/in-servicing of staff by credentialed internal trainers, including the use of Appreciative Inquiry techniques.
- Intake procedures include assessments of residents’ strengths, capacities, personal history, interests, likes and dislikes, and methods of calming.
- Information regarding engaging the resident effectively is readily available for all staff interacting with the resident, and a system is in place to update that information.
- Personalization of rooms, doorways to rooms, furniture in rooms, window boxes, photos, color of walls, etc. reflect residents’ personal preferences and tastes.
- Residents have significant input in the use and naming of environmental features such as composition of gardens, selection and timing of music played, and names of common areas, etc.
- Residents largely control and maintain community elements and the environment (e.g., maintaining libraries, posted schedules, setting up for activities and meals, etc.).
- Staff members consistently encourage and enable residents to do as much for themselves as possible.
- A self-assessment of the community has been completed and submitted (Forms provided).
- An action plan is in place for achieving Gold-level criteria.
GOLD LEVEL
Bronze and Silver criteria, plus…
- Information regarding engaging the resident effectively is readily available for all staff interacting with the resident, and a system is in place to update that information.
- Job descriptions and staff evaluations reflect MIL values and principles.
- At least one exemplary and innovative achievement in applying MIL principles must be demonstrated.
- Successful completion of an MDC site visit.
- Based on observations and feedback from the Montessori Dementia Center site visit, an action plan is developed. The action plan will outline what is needed to achieve any unmet criteria, as well as sustaining and expanding MIL within the community.
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