Assisted Living Memory Care residences in Northern and Central Florida are invited to apply for the opportunity to receive Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® training for their staff, funded by a grant from Health Resources & Services Administration awarded to the Florida State University College of Medicine. This project will provide training to approximately 50 staff members working with memory care residents and evaluate its effect on staff, families, and resident behaviors.
The Department of Geriatrics at Florida State University’s College of Medicine has entered into a cooperative agreement with the Center for Applied Research in Dementia to provide Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® training for Assisted Living Memory Care residences in Northern and Central Florida. Funding is provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration / North and Central Florida Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Partnership (NCF-GWEP).
Goals and Benefits of Participation
The use of Montessori techniques in dementia care has been shown to produce increased resident engagement and reduction in responsive behaviors, along with high levels of satisfaction by family members. Implementation of this approach also has been associated with reductions in the use of psychotropic medications, as well as reductions in anti-depressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics, weight gain, recovery of function in activities of daily living, as well as other outcomes relevant to senior care management such as reduced staff turnover, increased length of stay in assisted living residences, and increased census. [www.cen4ard.com/why/]
The goals of this project are to train staff members in the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® approach and evaluate its effect on staff, families, and resident behaviors.
Objective 1: Educate Assisted Living Staff on Montessori Inspired Lifestyle®
Objective 2: Transform Organizational Culture
Objective 3: Track Useful Program and Geriatric Quality of Care Measures
Objective 4: Expand Trainings to Families and First Responders
What to Expect
If you are selected to participate, training for the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® approach will be provided by trained and credentialed staff from the Center for Applied Research in Dementia. Quality Assurance measures will be used to document that key elements and principles of this training are being implemented, and internal memory care neighborhood staff trainers / Montessori mentors will be recruited and trained to ensure implementation and maintenance of the training. Montessori dementia training will be also provided to family members and first responders or other sectors in the community. NOTE: We will be utilizing a Remote Training Protocol during the COVID_19 lockdown.
Participants will be supported and required to follow all steps necessary to become a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® credentialed community. It is expected that after the first 6 months of participation in the project, the memory care community could receive Bronze Level credential and that at the end of 12 months of participation to advance to Silver or Gold Level credential status. Click here for a directory of current credentialed communities and descriptions of the credential types.
The project will involve making a commitment to take part in the project for the duration of the grant, currently ending in June 2024.
The value of the training and consultation that participants will receive through the grant is approximately $20,000.
How to Apply
If you wish to complete an application or have questions, please contact Kathleen@cen4ard.com
Note: final authorization to participate will be made by the Department of Geriatrics at Florida State University’s College of Medicine