Brenner Pathways provides a new vision for person-centered care giving. Our goal is to make hope possible for people living with dementia and for those who care for them. Our dementia care program uses both the method and the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori.
Our Methods
In our positive dementia care program we use the Montessori Method, the materials and philosophy along with using the arts. Montessori exercises use procedural memory (muscle memory which tends to be less affected by dementia). The materials should be beautiful and well maintained, easily recognizable and visible, purposeful, and meaningful.
Montessori Manipulatives
Montessori manipulatives create the opportunity for people to practice the pincer movement, using the thumb and fore fingers. This is very helpful for older people to preserve the ability to zip jackets, feed themselves and write, helping them keep some measure of independence for as long as possible. Some Montessori materials we use when working with individuals include knobbed cylinders, fabric matching, and zipper frames.
Reading Circles and Poetry
We create books to read aloud by collecting stories from people we’ve worked with who have dementia. Oftentimes these stories are like a snapshot, just a moment in a person’s life but these little stories have so much resonance in our Elder Reading Circles. The stories are reproduced in large, plain print and then placed in binders. Each person in the circle has their own binder and reads one page aloud. After the story, we discuss what we’ve just read, beginning with open-ended questions. These shared moments elicit a lot of reminiscence and oftentimes lively discussions. Please note, that sometimes older people say that cannot read when the problem is that the print is too small for them to see.
Poetry is a very important part of our program. We reproduce short poems in large print, place the poems in binders and read the poems aloud together in poetry reading circles. We also create community poems in which each person in the group adds a line to the poem.
Procedural Memory Exercises
One of the most powerful messages of Brenner Pathways is to put something meaningful in a person’s hands. This may be something from nature (flowers, a cup of snow, an autumn leaf). Or this could be something that the person found interesting or loved: a baseball glove for someone who loved the game, or a violin for a musician. Once a person is holding something from nature or something they loved, they become more grounded, encouraging the discussion of memories and stories from their lives. Our program is all about engagement and the simple act of putting something meaningful in a person’s hands is the beginning point for reaching people who may seem unreachable. Examples of these exercises are flower arranging (with real flowers), matching herbs by scent, polishing hubcaps, exploring a fishing tackle box, matching types of wood, and matching shells. Matching work helps concentrate and stimulate the mind. It also establishes engagement and conversation.
Music and Drumming
It has been our experience that sometimes when people have lost the ability to speak, they can and do still sing! Studies have shown that singing together is a spiritually and physically bonding activity. When people sing together, their hearts begin to beat together! We include a sing along in every session we have with people living with dementia.
Drum circles are another bonding experience. It doesn’t take long for a group to come together and play the same beat, playing louder, slower, faster, quieter as directed by the leader. Drums are a wonderful relief for people who may have pent up feelings but lack the language to describe their feelings. Studies have shown that drum circles may help to improve gait. We know they improve mood! We use light weight, frame drums with beaters designed for older people. We begin by using call and response simple rhythms and then move onto singing and playing the drums to accompany the songs.
Word Games
We create word games using large print and laminated cards. These games include: name that tune or finish the phrase or living/not living. We also create trivia games based on various subjects such as people in history, or major events. These sorts of word games stimulate the mind and create a lot of fun, laughter, and debate.
Painting
We use painting as a tool of engagement, expression and fun. Many times, elders have never held a paint brush or attempted a painting. We find that if we do this work in a group, people are more inclined to give it a try. Their paintings often astonish us and them! With the artists’ permission, we frame these paintings and hang them in the care home for others to enjoy.
Contact Us
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