Staff at Cabrini House have been discovering Montessori methods of education in an exciting new collaborative opportunity.
Nati Beltran, a Montessori teacher, invited Cabrini House staff and residents to take part in a research project which aims to discover new ways of working to support residents to achieve their goals.
The Montessori Method of education, developed by Maria Montessori, is a person-centred educational approach based on scientific observations of children. Montessori’s method has been used for over 100 years in many parts of the world. It is also applied to many different ages, including the ageing and elderly.
Montessori’s philosophy focuses on enabling individuals to be as independent as possible, to make a meaningful contribution to their community, to have high self-esteem, and to have the chance to make choices. It is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative activity.
Nati, pictured assisting staff member Aaron, has spent time helping the team understand how to fulfil residents' needs, making it possible for them to achieve their full potential. As an innovative method of working with older adults living with cognitive and/or physical impairments, Montessori has the potential to change the lives of people in residential care - the workshops at Cabrini House have been designed specifically for residents and staff under the Montessori philosophy.
- Workshop topics have included the following:
- Strategies to increase independence.
- How to embrace a person-centred approach. Preparing a stimulating environment.
- Communication and team working.
Marina Rubio Borrego, Diagrama's Interventions Manager said: "This is a really exciting development for Cabrini and we are looking forward to putting this into practice. Staff have been offered the opportunity throughout November to take part in Montessori method sessions and we have prepared exciting new materials based on Montessori principles to create a stimulating environment for everyone to benefit from."
