Barbara Dreher

Montessori and Alzheimer's: A partnership that works:

Maria Montessori was a precursor of the human rights for children movement. From her work in medicine, psychiatry, hygiene, pedagogy, and anthropology she devised teaching methods that can be used at both ends of the age spectrum. Her philosophy is inherently respectful of the individual; her terminology sheds a positive and analytical perspective on Alzheimer behaviors. Montessori claimed that play was the childs work. For the Alzheimer patient, work has become play. When skills used in former roles are performed, however slowly and imperfectly the person with Alzheimers is riveted and reassured Activities that merely resemble useful work increase concentration. Sweeping, washing, andkitchen tasks stirmuscle memory andsense ofworth. This paper will review Montessori principles andpractices and suggest many applications to cognitively-impaired elders. While some suggestions are more easily carried out when patients are getting daily care at home, others may be incorporated into adult day care and institutional programs

Communicating with the Elderly: A New Service Course?.

A new course was developed to provide communication facilitators for the aged. It was offered for credit in the departments of Social Work, Sociology, and Communication at both graduate and undergraduate levels. The rationale, content, topics, and activities are described.

Balancing the Human Equation

This article describes the benefits of using an expanded case study method in communication and aging courses. The case presentations involve well-rounded descriptions of an aged person seeking social or medical services and are balanced by including information from service provideres who display feelings of anxiety and insecurity. As the case is analyzed, students develop insight, knowledge, and creativity in coping with problematic situations.