Introduction: Over two decades, Montessori for Dementia and Ageing [MDA] has been introduced in residential aged care [RAC] as an innovative approach to support/inform the workforce to practice person-centred care [PCC]. However, it remains unclear how MDA aligns with, and can be used to support, PCC in RAC. This study sits within a larger body of work to develop a new Model of Care for a Victorian-based RAC provider and focuses on one component of model development–examining intersections between MDA and PCC in RAC.
Method: Sixteen focus groups and 36 semi-structured interviews with residents, family-members and staff/volunteers from eight RAC homes. A deductive approach to analysis was applied using an MDA Framework to guide analysis. The Framework was developed by the research team using data synthesised from the academic literature/key consumer websites and comprises: MDA-goals (independence/choice/memory/mobility/skills/purpose) and approaches (meaningful/purposeful activity; task-breakdown; memory/visual-cues; physical/cognitive ability).
Results: Findings provide support for the intersection between PCC and MDA. Participants' descriptions of PCC align with many of the goals/approaches defined in the MDA Framework. Most commonly, participants described purposeful activities (e.g., folding clothes/gardening/dusting) and promoting cognitive abilities through multi-sensory stimulation (e.g., sensory walls/music). Least frequently described approaches included maintaining strengths/abilities and function of residents.
Conclusions/Implications: Findings provide an opportunity to use the innovative approaches of MDA as a vehicle to upskill the workforce to deliver PCC. This opportunity is being implemented by the RAC provider whereby all staff are trained on MDA goals/approaches for application to existing work schedules and interactions with residents.