People with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias need support rich in regular cognitive stimulation and maintenance of social participation. Lack of activity often leads to apathy or anxiety and, in turn, leads to behavioral problems. The objective of the adapted Montessori method is to offer activities adapted to the abilities and interests of people with Alzheimer's. These activities will give the sick person a sense of action: the famous "helping to do things alone" of the original method. The objective is to allow them to continue living as long as possible in action and to absolutely escape passivity while maintaining a social connection.

This method was originally created by Maria Montessori to educate children in working-class neighborhoods in Rome. It was later adapted by Professor Camp for use with older adults with cognitive disabilities.

A suitable environment

Montessori pedagogy focuses on available skills and adapts the environment (e.g., adapted signage and materials) so that it makes sense to people without requiring the use of higher-order functions to understand it. Signage should help with spatial awareness and object recognition, particularly to compensate for cognitive deficits due to illness.

Stability is a key factor in the environment in order to avoid generating anxiety and to preserve autonomy in space.

The importance of routines

It's important to create routines and rituals, including codifying the beginning and end of each activity. Breaking down the activity into several steps makes it easier to understand and complete.

The companion focuses on non-verbal, sensory and motor communication rather than only verbal communication: speak less, show and look more, make people feel and listen...

The method will also focus on not putting the elderly person in a situation of failure, because this negatively influences self-esteem and can generate anxiety, which then leads to behavioral problems (aggression, etc.).

The importance of procedural memory

Adapted Montessori activities are based on the preserved skills and procedural memory of people with Alzheimer's. The activities offered are not limited to leisure activities alone. They also integrate the gestures and actions we perform daily from waking up to bedtime. Thus, all the acts of daily living are activities that can be offered to people living in nursing homes: setting the table, folding laundry, playing cards, watering plants, etc.

Some suitable tools

The birdhouse construction game : The pieces of this tree house can be easily assembled and then disassembled. Ideal for preserving or awakening manual work skills! This kit stimulates executive functions and action planning. Contents: 11 pieces made of birch and beech, screws and nuts, 11 cards with step-by-step explanatory drawings.

Discovery bin : A tray for learning by experimenting! In free play, we draw with our fingers, sift the sand or hide objects… During guided activities, we work on laterality, graphics… Made of wood with a safety glass base. 2 sizes: small (36 x 26.8 cm, 400 g of sand, 1 rake) and large (65.5 x 49.9 cm, 1 kg of sand, 3 rakes).

Mini workbench for screw and bolt assembly : Use both hands to assemble the two parts of this workbench by screwing the 7 screws onto the 7 bolts. The screws and bolts come in increasing sizes. We love feeling the heavy metal of the pieces. An excellent tool for training hand-eye coordination and finger agility in children, but also in older children! A neutral-looking toy with no childish connotations.

Natural Aquapaint : 5 illustrated scenes on the theme of nature to reveal with a brush soaked in water. Contact with water will reveal the colors. Then, they will gradually fade after a while. A painting tool that puts no pressure on the user: it doesn't matter if they go beyond the lines! Reusable.