Memory Care HERstory

My name is Kaitlynn Holley, and I’m the memory care director at Vitalia Senior Living – Stow. In honor of Women’s History Month, I want to take a moment to celebrate Lillian, one of our neighborhood residents! 

I’m pleased to share the story of our resident Lillian K. She was at the forefront of Montessori Education as the head director of a Montessori school, as well as a board member for the American Montessori Association. Lillian helped coordinate the first 40 USA Montessori schools. She gave presentations nationwide and published scholarly journals on the subject of Montessori for infants and toddlers. Lillian also published a quarterly journal for teachers of infants and young children.

It is important to honor the stories and history of individuals with dementia, because these residents have lived amazing lives and we can learn so much from their experience; however, they may be unable to share their stories with us anymore. It would be a shame to lose all that wisdom.

At Vitalia Stow, we learn about their personal history through their families and through reminiscing with the person themselves. We try to connect them with their history using customized experience boxes or life skill stations. Photo albums can be a great tool as well.