Use of Montessori-Based Activities by Visitors of Nursing Home Residents with Dementia

Nine dyads comprised of nursing home visitors and long-term care residents with dementia took part in a study to examine the effects of using Montessori-based activities during visits. Results indicated that use of Montessori-based activities was associated with significant increases in active forms of residents' engagement with visitors, and corresponding decreases in passive forms of engagement. Visitors' self-reported burden decreased from pre- to post-test. All of the participating visitors stated that they had observed positive changes in residents during the use of the activities and would recommend the training to others.