Resident-Assisted Montessori Programming (RAMP): Training Persons With Dementia to Serve as Group Activity Leaders

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an activity implemented by means of Resident-Assisted Montessori Programming (RAMP). Design and Methods: Four persons with early-stage dementia were trained to serve as leaders for a small-group activity played by nine persons with m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Gerontologist 2004-06, Vol.44 (3), p.426-431
Main Authors: Camp, Cameron J., Skrajner, Michael J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alzheimer Disease - rehabilitation
Dementia
Engagement
Female
Gerontology
Group Activities
Group Processes
Humans
Instructional Effectiveness
Leadership
Learning
Memory
Montessori Method
Procedural memory
Programming
Roles
Social roles
Standard 17
Teaching - methods
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Summary:Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an activity implemented by means of Resident-Assisted Montessori Programming (RAMP). Design and Methods: Four persons with early-stage dementia were trained to serve as leaders for a small-group activity played by nine persons with more advanced dementia. Assessments of leaders' ability to learn the procedures of leading a group, as well as their satisfaction with this role, were taken, as were measures of players' engagement and affect during standard activities programming and RAMP activities. Results: Leaders demonstrated the potential to fill the role of group activity leader effectively, and they expressed a high level of satisfaction with this role. Players' levels of positive engagement and pleasure during the RAMP activity were higher than during standard group activities. Implications: This study suggests that to the extent that procedural learning is available to persons with early-stage dementia, especially when they are assisted with external cueing, these individuals can successfully fill the role of volunteers when working with persons with more advanced dementia. This can provide a meaningful social role for leaders and increase access to high quality activities programming for large numbers of persons with dementia.
ISSN:0016-9013
1758-5341
DOI:10.1093/geront/44.3.426