trudy neal - alzheimer's australia vic - supporting purpose in everyday life for people with...
TRANSCRIPT
SUPPORTING PURPOSE IN EVERYDAY LIFE FOR
PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA
OVERVIEW
• About the project
• About Montessori
• Outcomes from the study
• 3 key messages
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Aim: To independently evaluate the outcomes of the
implementation of a Montessori approach in two
planned activity groups (PAGs) for people with
dementia. Study looked at:
• Clients’ levels and types of engagement
• Staff attitudes to dementia
• Families’ views
ABOUT THE PROJECTa. Piloted project in 2 culturally and geographically diverse planned activity groups
for clients living with dementia
Grevillea House, Doncaster, Vic Southaven Day Centre, Bentleigh, Vic
b. Delivered Montessori workshops for staff and families; onsite coaching for staff
d. Project outcomes - independently evaluated by ACEBAC, La Trobe University
e. Developed (free) online educational resource for staff and families
c. Used knowledge of clients’ abilities, interests and support needs to develop roles and other activities
ENGAGEMENT AND DEMENTIA
• Engagement in purposeful activity supports independence, identity, self-esteem, well-being
• There are different types of engagement e.g. active, passive, self, helping others, pleasure
• ‘Purpose’ and ‘meaning’ are determined by the individual
Engagement ‘looks’ different for different
people at different times
ABOUT MONTESSORI
Interests past and presentFocus on abilities
Purposeful roles, engagement, community Supportive physical and social
environments
CHALLENGES• Initial staff responses
• Not enough time• They have dementia – need to do everything for them• Clients (and families) don’t like change• Rules, regulations, policies, OH&S• Already do this• Why change? Always done it this way(Note: Staff resistance tended to subside over time)
• Time allocated for project e.g. implementation; time to work with families
• Limitations of the study
IDENTIFYINGSTRENGTHS(Video: Chapter 3)
ABOUT ADAM AND MONTESSORI
Invited participation “Would you like to..”?
Encouraged independence
Supported disability
Shifted the focus…. what can Adam do? (rather than what he can no longer do)
Gave the activity a sense of purpose
Worked in partnership with family and staff…identified interests past
and present
Adam had a good time!
SUPPORTING PURPOSEFUL ENGAGEMENT
(Video: Chapters 5 and 6)
Creatingopportunitiesforpurposefulactivitiesandroleswithinthecommunity
POSITIVE OUTCOMES• Significant, positive changes in staff and
carer attitudes to dementia• Clients willingly engaged in roles and
activities based on their skills and interests• Smaller group activities resulted in
increased choice• Some clients adopted leadership roles • Evaluation - statistically significant increase
in all levels of engagement in both sites
3 KEY MESSAGES FROM THE PROJECT
1. Effective leadership is essential to challenge attitudes and practices that hinder purposeful engagement
2. Life is a risk! …balance concern about risk with potential benefits; undertake thorough assessments; share decision-making
3. People with dementia will flourish in their own way when engaged in activities that are purposeful and meaningful to them
TO DO…
• Ensure sustainability - in PAGs and at home
• Develop consistent approaches across PAGs and home environments
• Determine the relevance of the findings in other settings
• Undertake further research to identify factors that support purposeful engagement
REFLECTION• What does your organisation focus
on…what people with dementia can do or what they can no longer do?
• How effectively does your organisation use knowledge about clients’ abilities and interests to create purposeful and enjoyable activities for individuals and groups?
ABOUT ‘PURPOSEFUL ACTIVITIES FOR DEMENTIA’• Video and complementary document developed
as a training resource – for PAG staff and carers at home
• Video consists of 6 chapters with options to view all at once or by chapter
• Each chapter summarises key messages and offers questions for reflection
• Freely available on the Alzheimer's Australia website
https://vic.fightdementia.org.au/purposeful-activities
MORE INFORMATION?Contact..
Manny Sayanos, Manager, Consultancy and Learning | Alzheimer's Australia Vic
Ph: 61 3 9816 5756
