Last month our community achieved our Montessori Gold Credential and this wonderful letter from CARD –

Arbor Springs Team – You did it! All of us at Center for Applied Research in Dementia applaud your achievement of becoming a Gold level Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® credentialed community. You join a growing group of communities that have demonstrated the highest level of person-centered care for your residents and an understanding of how beneficial a Montessori approach can be to both the people living in and those that work in your community. We hope you have seen the benefits yourself and found the rewards of your hard work returned to you exponentially!
We applaud your success in reaching your goals and appreciate having you as a model of what the pinnacle of memory care and quality of life should be. Please continue to let us know about your success stories and accomplishments so we can inspire others and show the world what is possible. Thank you for being part of the Montessori revolution in memory care.

Keep being amazing!

– Nelly Selby, Center for Advanced Research in Dementia

Happy Birthday to Our Residents!

Gloria – October 5th Marjory – October 25th
Polly – October 18th Joe – October 31th
Larabeth – October 23rd

Staff Birthdays!

Hayden – October 5th Odette – October 16th
Aime – October 7th Laurena – October 18th
Samara – October 8th Renae – October 21st
Grace – October 15th Sergio – October 24th
Cristen – October 16th Tedee – October 30th

Work Anniversaries!!

Astrid (6 yrs) October 3rd Sam (3 years) October 24th
Laurena (4 yrs) October 4th Sabine (2 years) October 26th
Mirian (17 yrs!!) October 8th Joyce (2 yrs) October 24th 
Ida (1 yr) October 11th Eva (2 yr) October 26th
James (2 yrs) October 15th Heather (3 yrs) October 31rd
Charlotte (1 yr) October 22nd

“I wish that every day was Saturday and every month was October.”
– Charmaine J. Forde

Adopt A New Friend

We foster cats through the Hope Animal Rescue.

Please visit the Hope Animal Rescue website for more info.

Montessori Principles in Action

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Which action(s) do you think demonstrate(s) the principle?
Do you see some that demonstrate more than one?

12 Montessori Principles

1. The activity should have a sense of purpose and capture interest
2. Invite the person to participate
3. Offer choice whenever possible
4. Demonstrate more. Talk less.
5. Physical skills. Focus on what the person can do.
6. Match your speed to theirs. SLOW DOWN!
7. Use visual hints, cues, or templates.
8. Give the person something to hold.
9. Go from simple to more complex.
10. Break a task down into steps.
11. To end, ask: Did you enjoy doing this?” and “Would you like to do this again”
12. There is no right and wrong. Think engagement.

“Everything you do for me, you take away from me.” – Dr. Maria Montessori

What We’re Doing

Looking forward to a scary good time this spooky season, but don’t be afraid to get out there and do some activities. We’ve got some festive holiday events as well as our trusty dusty. So check it out…there’s something for everyone!!

Resident Engagement Highlights:

  • Howell’s Pumpkin Patch Outing
  • Music & Massage in Dogwood
  • Men’s Steak Lunch in Maple
  • Making a Community Quilt
  • Scenic Bus Ride
  • Pumpkin Carving in the Café
  • Fall Scavenger Hunt
  • Fall Social in the Café
  • Reminisce with Betsy from the West Des Moines Public Library
  • Candy Delivery Cart
  • Halloween Movie in the Caféry

Montessori Inspired Lifestyle© Pledge

I will work to create a place where I would want to live.
I will remember that I am a guest in the home of my residents.
I will treat everyone I meet with respect, dignity, and equality.
I will remember that I must earn the trust of my residents and that they must learn to trust me.
I will apply the Montessori principles in everything that I do.
I will treat everyone I meet the way I wish to be treated.

What We’ve Been Up To!