Uniquely Trained Care Partners
Care Partners at Evergreen House are trained in the Montessori philosophy for dementia care by Jennifer Brush and her team. These special Care Partners collect a thorough history of the resident and collaborate with the resident and his or her family to identify roles that will provide meaningful engagement. Grace and courtesy are used during all communications to support relationship building and independence.
Care Partners practice with residents to help them relearn previous life roles as well as learn new roles they may enjoy. The more residents are routinely engaged in practice, the more they are able to do on their own and many times perform the role independently. The activities and roles happen as a normal course of the day, just like they would if the person was living at home. Specially-designed signage invites residents to participate in normalizing life tasks; familiar roles include setting the table, helping with meal preparation, watering flowers, or doing laundry.
Residents involved with meaningful and purposeful roles experience an environment where they enjoy making contributions. Engagement in having routines with roles help decrease the anxiety and confusion that often are seen in individuals with dementia.
Care Partners encourage independence but are there to invite participation as well as provide gentle reminders to join an activity or participate in a role.
