This is an outdated version published on 2021-06-21. Read the most recent version.

Experiences of caregivers with the use of the Montessori Method in working with the elderly and people with dementia in a care home

A case study

Authors

  • Špela Mihevc University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9372-6764
  • Tanja Križaj University of Plymouth, Faculty of Health: Medicine, Denistry and Human Sciences, School of Health Professionals, peninsula Allied Health Centre, Derriford Road, PL68BH, Plymouth, United Kingdom https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5940-3064
  • Marija Petek Šter University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Poljanski nasip 58, 1000 Ljubljan, Slovenia, and Community Health Center, Goliev trg 3, 8210 Trebnje, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1736-2377

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2021.55.2.3024

Keywords:

qualitative method, client-centered approach, employees

Abstract

Introduction: A client-centered approach contributes to a  higher quality of life of the elderly and people with dementia in care homes, and to the well-being of caregivers in the workplace. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of caregivers working with the elderly and people with dementia with the Montessori Method in care homes.
Methods: A case study was conducted in a care home where the Montessori Method is used. Data were obtained with face-to-face semi-structured interviews with eleven employees. Content analysis was used for data analysis.
Results: Four categories were identified: (1) the substantive and organizational aspects of the Montessori Method in the treatment of the elderly and persons with dementia; (2) cooperation between employees, residents and relatives; (3) employees' personal development; (4) significance of education for adults. The results have revealed a link between all the categories regarding the experiences of caregivers in the treatment of the elderly and people with dementia.
Discussion and conclusion: The results of the case study contribute new knowledge about the application of the Montessori Method in care homes. Caregivers' experiences have revealed that the use of the Montessori Method contributes to a better understanding of the importance of cooperation and education, and consequently also caregivers' personal development. In practice, a systematic implementation of the Montessori Method in the work with the elderly and people with dementia with an emphasis on education that is the basis of practical work, is recommended. Further research of the experiences of caregivers should be conducted and the search for the possibilities of the implementation of the Method in other care homes should be undertaken.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Acton, G. J., Yauk, S., Hopkins, B. A., & Mayhew, P. A. (2007). Increasing social communication in persons with dementia. Research and Theory of Nursing Practice, 21(1), 32–44. https://doi.org/10.1891/rtnpij-v21i1a005 PMid:17378463

Alford, V. M., Ewen, S., Webb, G. R., McGinley, J., Brookes, A., & Remedios, L. J., (2015). The use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health to understand the health and functioning experiences of people with chronic conditions from the person perspective: A systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 37(8), 655–666. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2014.935875

PMid: 24986707

Alsawy, S., Mansell, W., McEvoy, P., & Tai, S. (2017). What is good communication for people living with dementia: A mixedmethods

systematic review. International Psychogeriatrics, 29(11), 1785–1800. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610217001429 PMid: 28756788

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (Eds.) (2013). Successful qualitative research a practical guide for beginners (pp. 77–93). London: SAGE Publications.

Bryman, A. (Ed.) (2012). Social research methods (pp. 389–393). New York: Oxford University Press.

Camp, J. C. (2010). Origins of Montessori programming for dementia. Non-pharmacological Therapies in Dementia, 1(2), 163–174. PMid: 23515663; PMCid: PMC3600589

Chetty, L. (2013). Innovative interpretive qualitative case study research method aligned with systems theory for physiotherapy

and rehabilitation research: A review of the methodology. African Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, 5 (1/2), 40–44.

https://doi.org/10.4314/ajprs.v5i1.7

Coates, A., & Fossey, J. (2019). Self-efficacy in dementia care staff: Experiences from the care home context. Dementia, 18(2), 530–544.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301216682627 PMid: 27927944

Cook, G., Thompson, J., & Reed, J. (2015). Re-conceptualising the status of residents in a care home: Older people wanting to "live with care". Ageing & Society, 35(8), 1587–1613. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X14000397

Cooney, A. (2012). "Finding home": A grounded theory on how older people "find home" in long-term care settings. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 7(3), 188–199. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-3743.2011.00278.x PMid: 21631889

Ducak, K. (2012). Implementing Montessori Methods for Dementia ™ in Ontario long-term care homes: Recreation staff and multidisciplinary consultants perceptions of policy and practice issues. Dementia, 17(1), 5–33. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301215625342 PMid: 26748337

Duffy, B., Oyebode, J. R., & Allen, J. (2014). Burnout among care staff for older adults with dementia. Dementia, 8(4), 515–541. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301209350285

Green, J., & Thorogood, N. (Eds.) (2004). Qualitative Methods for Health Research. London: SAGE Publications.

Habjanič, A., Saarnio, R., Elo, S., Turk, D. M., & Isola, A. (2012). Challenges for institutional elder care in Slovenian nursing homes. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 21(17/18), 2579–2589. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.04044.x PMid: 22889448

Hunter, P. V., Thorpe, L., Hounjet, C., & Hadjistavropoulos, T. (2018). Using normalization process theory to evaluate the implementation of Montessori-based volunteer visits within a Canadian long-term care home. The Gerontologist, 60(1), 182–192. https://doi.org/ 10.1093/geront/gny103 PMid: 30219890

Kodeks etike v zdravstveni negi in oskrbi Slovenije in Kodeks etike za babice Slovenije. (2014). Ljubljana: Zbornica zdravstvene in babiške nege Slovenije – Zveza strokovnih društev medicinskih sester, babic in zdravstvenih tehnikov Slovenije.

Kordeš, U., & Smrdu, M. (Eds.) (2015). Osnove kvalitativnega raziskovanja. Famnit Texbooks. Koper: Univerza na Primorskem.

Korstjens, I., & Moser, A. (2018). Series: Practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 4: Trustworthiness and publishing. European Journal of General Practice, 24(1), 20–124. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/13814788.2017.1375092 PMid: 29202616

Križaj, T., & Hurst, J. (2013). Perceptions of a clientcentred approach among Slovenian occupational therapists. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 19(12), 70–78. https://doi.org/ 10.12968/ijtr.2012.19.2.70

Križaj, T., (2017). An exploration of Slovenian older people's occupations and influence of transition into a care home on their occupational engagement (doktorska disertacija). Plymouth University, Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, Plymouth.

Križaj, T., Warren, A., & Slade, A. (2018). "Holding on to what I do": Experiences of older Slovenians moving into a care home. The Gerontologist, 58(3), 512–520. https://doi.org/ 10.1093/geront/gnw150 PMid: 27856501

Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

Ljubič, A., & Štemberger Kolnik, T. (2017). Prednosti metode montessori pri obravnavi pacientov z demenco. Obzornik zdravstvene nege, 51(1), 75–88. https://doi.org/ 10.14528/snr.2017.51.1.117

Mihevc, Š., & Skela Savič, B. (2019). Pomen uporabe metode montessori za zaposlene, ki delajo s starejšimi in osebami z demenco v domu starejših. In: K. Pesjak, (Eds.), 12. mednarodna znanstvena konferenca Izzivi in potrebe družbe na področju preventive in promocije zdravja na vseh ravneh zdravstvenega varstva. Bled, 6. junij 2019. Jesenice: Fakulteta za zdravstvo Angele Boškin.

Patton, M. Q. (Ed.) (2015). Qualitative research & Evaluation Method. London: SAGE Publications. Rokstad, A. M. M., Døble, B. S., Engedal, K., Kirkevold, Ø., Benth, J. Š., & Selbaek G. (2017). The impact of the Dementia ABC educational programme on competence in person-centred dementia care and job satisfaction of care staff. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 12(2). PMid: 27868356

Tuominen, L., Leino-Kilpi, H., & Suhonen, R. (2016). Older people's experiences of their free will in nursing homes. Nursing Ethics, 23(1), 22–35. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733014557199 PMid: 25488758

Vogrinc, J. (Ed.) (2008). Kvalitativno raziskovanje na pedagoškem področju. Ljubljana: Univerza v Ljubljani, Pedagoška fakulteta.

Willemse, B. M., De Jonge, J., Smit, D., Visser, Q., Depla, M. F., & Pot, A. M. (2015). Staff's person-centredness in dementia care in relation to job characteristics and job-related well-being: A cross-sectional survey in nursing homes. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 71(2), 404–416. https://doi.org/ 10.1111/jan.12505 PMid: 25123418

World Medical Association (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research

involving human subjects. Journal of the American Medical Association, 310 (20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053

PMid:24141714

Published

2021-06-21

Versions

How to Cite

Mihevc, Špela, Križaj, T. ., & Petek Šter, M. (2021). Experiences of caregivers with the use of the Montessori Method in working with the elderly and people with dementia in a care home: A case study. Slovenian Nursing Review, 55(2), 102–112. https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2021.55.2.3024

Issue

Section

Original scientific article