Activities for Alzheimer's & Dementia
How to Relate to People with Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia
Nov 13, 2008
People with Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia have a diminishing capacity to remember the most immediate occurrence, have difficulty making association between things, and may not remember the relationship they have with someone they recognize who is very close to them.
This may have many believing there is no longer a capacity to learn or a way to have meaningful and stimulating interactions with someone with dementia. Many caregivers, family and friends ask "What activity can I do with someone who has Alzheimer's Disease?"
Dr. Cameron Camp's Use of Montessori Methods
In a recent article in the Education Life supplement to the New York Times [Sunday, November 2, 2008], "Coming Full Circle", John Leland describes how people with dementia living at an assisted-living facility in New York state have shown improvement in learning and functioning since participating in Montessori based learning activities.
Recent research and practice by Dr. Cameron Camp at Myers Research Institute in Beachwood Ohio suggests people with Alzheimer's can learn. Camp has found that using the Montessori principals of learning for early childhood education can benefit Alzheimer’s patients ability to learn.
According to the article by researchers at Myers Research Institute, "Use of Montessori-Based Activities for Clients in Adult Day Care: Effects on Engagement" in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias [Vol. 15, No. 1, 42-46], there were positive results from using Montessori-based activities:
"During the nine-month study, clients in Montessori-based activities exhibited greater amounts of constructive engagement, defined as motor or verbal behavior exhibited in response to the activity in which the client was taking part, than clients in regular programming. Montessori-based activities also elicited less passive engagement… "
In another article titled, "Innovative Programs for People with Alzheimer's", in the AARP Bulletin [September 2005], Barbara Basler Source quotes Dr. Camp as saying those with Alzheimer's:
"live in the moment, and our job is to give them as many good moments as we can. We need to be thinking about these people in a new way. Instead of focusing on their problems and deficits, we need to ask what strengths and abilities remain."
Activities for People with Alzheimer's Disease
With this in mind, there are several books by Dr. Cameron Camp with many activities based on the Montessori principals for learning that can be helpful to those who are caring for people with Alzheimer's Disease. These activities can be done at home or in a shared group experience of assisted living or daycare setting.
The following books are authored or co-authored by Dr. Camp:
- Montessori-Based Activities for Persons with Dementia by Cameron Camp [Myers Research Institute, 2001]
- Montessori Based Activities for Persons with Dementia, Vol. II by Cameron Camp [Myers Research Institute, 2006]
- A Therapy Technique for Improving Memory: Spaced Retrieval by Jennifer Bush, Cameron Camp [Myers Research Institute, 1998]
- A Different Visit: Activities for Caregivers and their Loved Ones with Memory Impairment by Adena Joltin, Cameron Camp, Beverly Noble, Vincent Antenucci [Myers Research Institute 2005]
Other Books about Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
- Alzheimer's From the Inside Out by Richard Taylor [Health Professions Press, 2006]
- ABC's of Activities for Alzheimers by Amira Choukair Tame [Trafford Publishing, 2006]
- The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer's Activities, Volume Two by Virginia Bell, David Troxel, Tonya Cox, Robin Hamon [Health Professions Press, 2007]
Although visiting or caring for a person with Alzheimer's Disease or other forms of dementia can be very difficult and frustrating, there are ways to make the experience more meaningful and enjoyable for all…caregivers, family, friends, and the person with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia.
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