Villa Palazzo Achieves Silver Level Certification for Its Memory Care Program
8/22/22—The team at Villa Palazzo is devoted to building a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® (MIL) for their community, earning them a Silver Level credential.
The MIL program was created by the Center for Applied Research in Dementia (CARD), after one of its founders, Dr. Cameron Camp, adapted Dr. Maria Montessori’s principles for child development and learning for older adults with dementia. Guided by CARD, staff learned how to implement the Montessori principles of equality, dignity, and respect in their community. Staff were trained to empower residents with memory impairment to be as independent as possible. This is achieved through tapping into each resident’s remaining strengths, designing environments where they can thrive, and helping them find purposeful activities and meaningful roles within their community.
The Benefits of Memory Care
Communities effectively using Montessori principles benefit from healthier and happier residents, fewer drugs, fewer responsive behaviors, more satisfied families, and better staffing and census (Witt-Hoblit, Miller, & Camp, 2016). Silver Level organizations have resident-led committees, multidisciplinary Learning Circles, effective signage and environmental cues, personalization of resident spaces, and ongoing staff training by credentialed internal trainers, among many other milestones.
“The earning of Silver Level credential is a major achievement for the Activity Department Team here at Villa Palazzo. The team has worked hard with the associates and residents. One can definitely see a difference in the engagement and activity level,” said Robert Howell, executive director of Villa Palazzo Senior Living.
About Villa Palazzo
Situated on beautifully landscaped grounds in Sandy Springs, Georgia, Villa Palazzo is a senior living residence that is home to two communities: Assisted Living and Memory Care. We believe in enhancing life and wellness with each touchpoint, and we strive to create a warm, friendly environment where seniors can thrive. We are also the first Montessori Inspired Lifestyle—credentialed community in Georgia, so residents and their loved ones can have peace of mind knowing that they're receiving high-quality, evidence-based dementia care in a supportive environment.