an article of Mayte Vazquez Resino
General Health Psychologist
Member of the
and member of the group of Good Treatment to the Elderly of the
Expert in cognitive development in the elderly by the URJC and in Emotional Intelligence, Mindfulness and Positive Psychology
Montessori philosophy and principles
He Montessori educational methoddeveloped in the early 20th century for use in children and preadolescents, has become widely popularized and widespread since its inception, being the area of the elderly one of the most benefited in its development and application.
This philosophy has its origin in the Italian doctor, educator and pedagogue Maria Montessori (1870-1952) as a legacy of child pedagogy, however, and as we have already pointed out, it is easily adaptable to the life cycle of the elderly since its purpose is the manipulation and interaction of various materials and objectscreating games that help not only to learn and develop curiosity but also to stimulate and preserve sensory, cognitive and motor functions in this stage, and therefore promoting its autonomy and functionality.
The use of attractive materials and skills autonomously (independence), the non-correction and control of errors, concentration, non-judgment, the environment prepared and adapted to the idiosyncrasy and personal identity, security, motivation, acceptance and respect are some of the principles that serve as the basis for slowing down cognitive decline, while decreasing behavioral and emotional symptoms associated with dementiassuch as agitation, impulsiveness, dysthymia, frustration, apathy, etc., thus increasing the autonomy and quality of life of these people.
Montessori therapy in older people is characterized by being close, respectful, empathetic and personal, as well as flexible, dynamic and transversal.
- Montessori principles applied to different dementias. Studies
When Montessori is worked with adults, the objective is really the same as with children: continue to bring out the maximum potential of the person, in an integral way, treating them as unique people and fully capable of acting with freedom, intelligence and dignity during each vital moment. To do this, we must respect the principles of the Montessori Methodology mentioned.
From Neuroscience it is a methodology prepared to learn, as the hands are the source of input to the brain and therefore favor sensory input. At the same time, several studies have shown that these skills are essential for both cognitive and social and emotional learning.
There are several studies that support the use of Montessori in the elderly, applied to people with dementia:
- He Cognitive Intervention Method for patients with severe cognitive impairment based on the Activities of the Montessori Method, is a program that is developed with good results at the Myers Research Institute in Cleveland (Ohio, USA), adapted by Cameron Camp (Camp, 1999) and is based on the activities created by Maria Montessori for working with children with special educational needs.
- This theory is adapted and used in people with dementia by the Fundación Instituto Gerontológico Matia-INGEMA, with results that fully support its efficacy, mainly reducing behavioral alterations, promoting patient autonomy and improving some of the cognitive functions (language, memory and arithmetic) after 6 months of intervention (Buiza, Etxeberria, Yanguas, Palacios, Yanguas and Zulaica, 2004).
- The study carried out by Orsulic-Jeras, Judge and Camp (2000) indicates a increase in commitment to carry out activitiesless presence of passive behavior and greater gratification obtained thanks to participation in the program.
- The satisfactory experience and validation of the program Montessori prompted the Fundación Instituto Gerontológico Matia (INGEMA) and its team (Etxebarria et al. 2006) to develop a joint family-patient program, with the family member being in charge of applying the activities to the elderly, guided by a professional, observing significant changes in conceptualization, language and visuospatial capacity in the experimental group in relation to the control group.
In summary, the results show a greater commitment, motivation and inversely a decrease in behavioral and problem disturbances of the older person.
- Montessori application from the person-centered care model
The care model that best suits the Montessori philosophy is he Person-Centered Comprehensive Care Model since, in this model, the work is congruent with the true needs of the person according to the level of development in which they are. This vision is characterized by the recognition of its value and uniquenessfocusing on their capabilities (not deficits) and supporting the self-determination of individuals.
In addition, professionals rely on their life stories, looking for opportunities to develop their skills and receiving responses to their personal, family and social needs with which to promote control and autonomy and consequently feel better.
- Application of activities and development of Montessori workshops adapted to the needs of the elderly
Through the application of Montessori, it produces stimulation of higher cognitive functions. The activities and materials that are used in each cognitive phase vary in terms of their complexity, working among others: memory, attention, executive functions, sensory stimulation, as well as physical and motor skills and therefore social skills.
The objectives in a mild or moderate stage (fast 1-4) is to maintain their functional independence, feeling of independence, good mood, relationship with the environment and try to delay behavioral symptoms.
The objectives and intervention with people with moderate-severe and severe dementia (fast 5 and 6) focus on basic and procedural activities allowing to maintain or better the skills necessary to carry out basic activities of daily living (ABVD), in addition to providing cognitive stimulation with a certain degree of difficulty through activities that have meaning with the patient. On the other hand, and important in this phase is to reduce behavioral disorders, improving the quality of life by promoting knowledge and curiosity.
Finally, the objectives of intervention with people with severe stage dementia (fast 7) are to promote the discrimination capacity of the basic senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell), maintain affective memory associated with positive stimuli, while reducing behavioral disorders and improving the mood of the patient. elderly.
- Conclusion
As we have described, Montessori therapy in older people is characterized by being close, respectful, empathetic and personal, it is also a flexible, dynamic and transversal therapy as it is adapted to all phases of the different dementias, with stimulation and participation in the very significant programs offered in each of them.
Therefore, Montessori It is more than a set of activities… It is a whole philosophy of treating the person.
Bibliography
Buiza, I., Etxeberria, JJ, Yanguas, V., Palacios, E., Yanguas, and Zulaica, A. (2004). An intervention alternative for people with severe cognitive impairment: the Montessori method. Spanish Journal of Geriatrics and Gerontology, 39 (suppl. 2), 59-124.
CampCJ (2010). Origins of Montessori Programming for Dementia. Non-pharmacological therapies in dementia, 1(2), 163–174.
Montessori Study Center (2009). The basis of the Montessori method. Montessori world. 1,1-32.
Etxeberria, JJ, Yanguas, C., Buiza, A., Zulaica, N., Galdona, MF, and González (2006). Family-patient joint intervention program with severe cognitive impairment based on the activities of the Montessori Method. At the 48th Congress of the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology and the 2nd Congress of the Navarre Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology. Communication. Pamplona.
The Montessori Foundation (nd). (At: http://www.montessori.org/, accessed in July 2019)
Mayte Vazquez