Bridging the Intergenerational Gap in Therapeutic Activity Delivery Between Younger Professional Caregivers and Older Adults Living With Dementia

Abstract

Many older individuals have cohort-specific knowledge that may not be known by young caregivers. By providing familiar information, using Montessori principles that key into the remaining abilities of those with dementia, it is possible for the younger caregivers to successfully facilitate satisfying, interactive programs. Forty activity directors and staff, age 25-50, in long-term care settings interacted with residents age 56-100 in groups of 10 or more in both an activity intervention and standard activities. The younger caregivers indicated positive responses to the activity A. A. Sterns et al. intervention and demonstrated increases in positive attitudes toward cognitively impaired, elderly residents, which was due to the intervention that provides the structure and materials to overcome both the skills gap and intergenerational knowledge gap for those staff that have them.

The effect of Montessori program in the elderly with dementia: a literature review

“…3 studies were performed on 4 subjects, 40,46 9 studies were conducted on 5-18 subjects (average of n = 11.22) 28, 33,34,43,45,48,49,53,57 and 6 studies were done on 20-30 people (average of n = 24). 4,30,35,37,42,55 The number of participants in 2 studies was between 30 and 35 (average of n = 33.5), 39 the number of samples in another 2 studies was 40 36,54 and the sample size in the other 2 studies was 43. 38,50 Also, 4 studies involved 44 to 64 participants (average of n = 53.5).…”

“…4,21,29,34,35,39,47 3 studies included samples with moderate to severe dementia 37,48,57 and 2 studies included patients with moderate dementia. 33,54 Also, 4 studies were performed on patients with mild to severe dementia. 28,32,51,52 In one study, it was mentioned that the length of time subjects had been diagnosed with dementia was 25 months 55 and, in another study, it had been reported between 25 and 37 months.…”

“…Among the reviewed articles, 18 studies have examined the effect of the Montessori intervention on the quality of life of individuals with dementia. In these studies, hope and optimism, 4 engagement, 21,29,31,36,38,[42][43][44]53,54,58 job satisfaction, 34,36,42,44,48 and other factors of quality of life have been evaluated. [33][34][35]38,42,45,50,57 The psychological capital questionnaire was used to investigate hope and optimism.…”

Effectiveness of DementiAbility Methods: The Montessori Way on agitation in long‐term care home residents with dementia in Hong Kong

“…Exceptions include findings on reducing agitation either within session of Montessori‐based activity or with complementary effect of acupressure . Besides, the type of training provided for facilitators of Montessori‐based activities was inconsistently reported in literatures, though Montessori‐based activities have been delivered by different kinds of facilitators including allied health professionals and nonprofessionals . Therefore, it is uncertain on whether the quality of Montessori‐based activities implemented is consistent across studies and Montessori‐based activities is effective in reducing agitation persistent in daily life of long‐term care home residents with dementia …”