Other Titles
Implementation of a Montessori-based Dementia Care Program to Improve Healthcare Delivery in the LTC/SNF Setting [Poster Title]
Abstract
A 60-bed long-term care facility face challenges in dementia care. Staff report decreased confidence in managing behaviors (WeCare Connect, n.d.), which impacts person-centered care (Dookhy & Daly, 2021). Low engagement affects residents’ quality of life. This project aims to improve dementia care and increase resident and staff satisfaction.
The Montessori-Based Dementia Care Program (MBDP) engages residents in meaningful activities by utilizing long-term memories (Montessori Method, 2020) to reduce behaviors and improve care quality (Erkes et al., 2021). This project aims to reduce incidents by 20%, increase engagement by 25%, and improve staff satisfaction by 15% by December 2025.
This facility reports low staff satisfaction, with a 73% turnover rate and below-average staffing, resulting in reduced resident time (Luther Crest Nursing Facility, 2022). Increased workload limits time for person-centered care, leading to dissatisfaction (Dookhy & Daly, 2021). A new approach to managing dementia behaviors could reduce workload and improve satisfaction.
Resident satisfaction is also low; 28% report worsened mobility, and 20% require more assistance, which increases fall risk and lowers quality of life. (Luther Crest Nursing Facility, 2022). Overall satisfaction is 80%, below average, especially in responsiveness and engagement (WeCare Connect, n.d.). Enhanced care and engagement are needed to improve life quality and ratings.
MBDP significantly impacts engagement and job satisfaction (Booth et al., 2018). Studies by Sheppard et al. (2016) and Yan et al. (2023) show MBDP reduces disruptive behaviors and enhances life quality. A 2021-2022 MBDP pilot in this facility’s memory unit was shown to have decreased falls and turnover (WeCare Connect, n.d.).
The project will utilize the Montessori Elder Care program from the Brush Development Company, incorporating the Plan-Do-Study-Act Method to provide monthly staff training and resident space redesign (How to Improve, n.d.). Key performance indicators like staff/resident surveys and incident reports will evaluate effectiveness, with refinements made utilizing the FRAME method (Madrigal et al., 2022). The $30,000 budget includes staff training, environmental changes, and data collection through third-party systems and electronic health records. To maximize cost-effectiveness, the project team will oversee data analysis, grant applications, and other roles.
Notes
References:
Booth, S., Zizzo, G., Robertson, J., & Goodwin Smith, I. (2018). Positive interactive engagement (PIE): a pilot qualitative case study evaluation of a person-centred dementia care programme based on montessori principles. Dementia, 19(4), 975–991. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301218792144
Dookhy, J., & Daly, L. (2021). Nurses’ experiences of caring for persons with dementia experiencing responsive behaviours in an acute hospital: A qualitative descriptive study. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 16(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12379
Erkes, J., Camp, C. J., & Bayard, S. (2021). Don’t bother trying, they won’t do it! Effect of responsive behaviors on the Montessori assessment system. Clinical Gerontologist, 45(4), 870–877. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2021.1924333
How to Improve: Model for Improvement. (n.d.). Institute for Healthcare Improvement. https://www.ihi.org/resources/how-to-improve
Luther Crest Nursing Facility. (2022). Medicare.gov. https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/nursing-home/395591?city=Fogelsville&state=PA&zipcode=18051
Madrigal, C., Mills, W. L., Keleher, V., Pimentel, C. B., Hartmann, C. W., Snow, A. L., Camp, C. J., & Hilgeman, M. M. (2022). A spotlight on adaptation: Preimplementation of Montessori-Based activity programming in Long-Term care using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced (FRAME). Gerontologist, 63(3), 589–603. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnac133
Montessori Method for Alzheimer’s & Dementia: How it Works at Home and in Assisted Living. (2020). Dementia Care Central. https://www.dementiacarecentral.com/dementiacare/montessori-method
Sheppard, C., McArthur, C., & Hitzig, S. L. (2016). A systematic review of montessori-based activities for persons with dementia. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 17(2), 117–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2015.10.006
WeCare Connect. (n.d.). WeCare Connect. https://wecareconnect.org/
Yan, Z., Traynor, V., Alananzeh, I., Drury, P., & Chang, H. (2023). The impact of montessori-based programmes on individuals with dementia living in residential aged care: A systematic review. Dementia, 22(6), 1259–1291. https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012231173817
Sigma Membership
Epsilon Phi
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Long-term Care, Interprofessional, Interdisciplinary, Teaching and Learning Strategies, Dementia Care, Quality of Life
Recommended Citation
Judka, Erica N., "Implementation of a Montessori-Based Dementia Program to Improve HealthCare Delivery in a LTC/SNF" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 11.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/posters_2025/11
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-11-18
Implementation of a Montessori-Based Dementia Program to Improve HealthCare Delivery in a LTC/SNF
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
A 60-bed long-term care facility face challenges in dementia care. Staff report decreased confidence in managing behaviors (WeCare Connect, n.d.), which impacts person-centered care (Dookhy & Daly, 2021). Low engagement affects residents’ quality of life. This project aims to improve dementia care and increase resident and staff satisfaction.
The Montessori-Based Dementia Care Program (MBDP) engages residents in meaningful activities by utilizing long-term memories (Montessori Method, 2020) to reduce behaviors and improve care quality (Erkes et al., 2021). This project aims to reduce incidents by 20%, increase engagement by 25%, and improve staff satisfaction by 15% by December 2025.
This facility reports low staff satisfaction, with a 73% turnover rate and below-average staffing, resulting in reduced resident time (Luther Crest Nursing Facility, 2022). Increased workload limits time for person-centered care, leading to dissatisfaction (Dookhy & Daly, 2021). A new approach to managing dementia behaviors could reduce workload and improve satisfaction.
Resident satisfaction is also low; 28% report worsened mobility, and 20% require more assistance, which increases fall risk and lowers quality of life. (Luther Crest Nursing Facility, 2022). Overall satisfaction is 80%, below average, especially in responsiveness and engagement (WeCare Connect, n.d.). Enhanced care and engagement are needed to improve life quality and ratings.
MBDP significantly impacts engagement and job satisfaction (Booth et al., 2018). Studies by Sheppard et al. (2016) and Yan et al. (2023) show MBDP reduces disruptive behaviors and enhances life quality. A 2021-2022 MBDP pilot in this facility’s memory unit was shown to have decreased falls and turnover (WeCare Connect, n.d.).
The project will utilize the Montessori Elder Care program from the Brush Development Company, incorporating the Plan-Do-Study-Act Method to provide monthly staff training and resident space redesign (How to Improve, n.d.). Key performance indicators like staff/resident surveys and incident reports will evaluate effectiveness, with refinements made utilizing the FRAME method (Madrigal et al., 2022). The $30,000 budget includes staff training, environmental changes, and data collection through third-party systems and electronic health records. To maximize cost-effectiveness, the project team will oversee data analysis, grant applications, and other roles.
Description
This project, developed as part of a 2024 master's final practicum, will explore how the Montessori-Based Dementia Care Program (MBDP) improves the quality of life for residents with dementia in the long-term care setting. The project aims to apply evidence-based MBDP principles and practices in a facility to improve resident engagement, reduce disruptive behaviors, and increase staff confidence and satisfaction.