Speak Out OCTOBER 2021 DIGITAL EDITION

Association NEWS

Innovation in research Implementation and Evaluation of a Montessori Model of Care in Dementia Care Settings

Our research innovation evaluated the implementation of Montessori-inspired models of care across two memory support units in Western Australia and Victoria. The research findings have shown that culture change is possible, with wide-ranging benefits for all key stakeholders – residents, staff, families, the organisation, and the industry as a whole. Outcomes respond to the call for fundamental and systemic aged care reform in Australia, highlighted by the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and the need for innovative models of care. Research innovation Our research team had the privilege of partnering with Catholic Homes Inc (CHI) in Western Australia and Villa Maria Catholic Homes (VMCH) in Victoria, as they embarked on ambitious culture change journeys. Both organisations set out to improve their models of care by incorporating Montessori principles, enabling the independence of residents, and providing a more personalised and enriching environment, where meaningful activities, roles, and memory supports were to be integrated within daily care routines. Both organisations were committed to researching the model and learning from the culture change process in a systematic and rigorous way. Montessori methods for dementia have emerged as a promising pathway to more person-centred care, first applied to the dementia field by Dr Cameron Camp (Camp, 2010). The evidence base for Montessori methods in dementia care is increasing, showing positive outcomes for residents’ engagement, mood, cognition, and quality of life (Roberts, Morley, Walters, Malta, & Doyle, 2015; van der Ploeg, Eppingstall, Camp, Runci, Taffe, & O’Connor, 2013). Montessori methods have been particularly promising when implemented as a philosophy of care, infusing Montessori principles throughout routine care delivery (Roberts et al., 2015). Implementing Montessori methods in practice has, however, remained challenging (Janssen, Kinney, & Farfsing, 2020), with a need to better understand factors that facilitate the culture change process and whether the Montessori model truly achieves more person-centred care. Our research used novel Montessori methods for dementia and the implementation challenge

Dr Jade Cartwright and Elizabeth Oliver

Research team Dr Jade Cartwright, Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University Associate Professor Anne Whitworth, Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University Ms Elizabeth Oliver, Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University Ms Karen Roberts, Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University Dr Michelle Bennett, School of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University We would like to acknowledge Regina Fitzpatrick for her contribution in a research assistant role. Care Innovation Team Ms Elizabeth Oliver, Care Innovation Lead, Catholic Homes Inc Ms Julie Smith, Executive Manager Residential Care, Catholic Homes Inc; Project Officer, Villa Maria Catholic Homes Ms Helen Haynes, Montessori Team Leader, Catholic Homes Inc and Villa Maria Catholic Homes Ms Sonya. Smart, CEO, Villa Maria Catholic Homes We would like to acknowledge Anne Kelly Montessori Consulting for her central role in training staff across both organisations and inspiring culture change.

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October 2021 | Speak Out