What does successful aging mean to you? At The Birches, successful aging means continuing to grow, learn, and deepen our connections as we age.
Our four pillared approach to successful aging includes regular opportunities for social support, intellectual challenge, physical growth, and spiritual connections.
We empower our assisted living and memory care Members to thrive, using principles of the Montessori approach. Learn how The Birches infuses Montessori philosophies into daily life in our senior living community in Clarendon Hills.
Science tells us: having a purpose in life is vital to maintaining well-being. Living with a sense of purpose leads to lasting fulfillment, which enhances overall quality of life.
Montessori activities for older adults in assisted living provide a safe, structured, rewarding way for seniors to actively engage in purposeful lives. Montessori tasks may involve both individual and collective components. It's important to nurture personal enjoyment and responsibility, while also fostering social connections.
Montessori activities often include tactile stimulation and movement. They may fold in everyday items and tasks, such as cleaning a kitchen or folding laundry. They may also encourage artistic and creative expression, such as music and painting activities. The ability to use all our senses is a key component of the learning process, and for having deep, enriching experiences.
Montessori activities engage participants in many ways for a holistic, comprehensive experience. They often address multiple goals, like strengthening fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, sustained attention, collaboration, and reasoning. Most of all, Montessori activities for seniors are meant to be enjoyable and meaningful.
At The Birches, our robust schedule of Montessori-based activities are geared to our Members’ preferences. This is one way we show them we value their input and engagement in our community life. We’re always listening, and value feedback from our Members and their loved ones to shape and direct our offerings.
Montessori principles also inform how senior living communities are designed to encourage residents to thrive. The Birches provides a dynamic, secure, and welcoming environment for our Members. Our thoughtful community design encourages safe exploration and also provides a rich setting for lifelong learning, unforced connections, and discovery.
Montessori senior living residents feel both independent and supported at all times, promoting a high quality of life. Residents are empowered to engage in all aspects of daily life: from supporting program staff with resident-led activities, to participating in preferred creative endeavors, to savoring moments of serenity in a community garden.
The Birches is deeply committed to empowering our Members with supportive care, a nurturing and stimulating environment, and meaningful opportunities to engage and connect. With respect and encouragement, we ensure their voices are heard.
The Montessori Triad is an important foundation of this approach. When applied in assisted living and memory care contexts, it involves how senior living residents interact with their environment, caregivers, and themselves.
The Birches provides an engaging, safe, and welcoming environment for our Members. We seek to fill their lives with compassionate care and opportunities to seek meaning and purpose in everyday life. Our Members have the freedom to choose how they’d like to spend their time, and we take care to uphold their preferences and needs.
This dynamic creates a framework for deeper, more meaningful interactions and experiences. It also forges bonds of trust and respect between our Members and our caring team members.
We believe folding Montessori principles into our mission helps us to provide a robust, holistic senior living experience to all who call our community home. The Birches is proud to be the only Silver Certified Montessori Inspired Lifestyle senior living community in Illinois.
This unique, comprehensive approach to senior living and care is how we support each of our valued Members to thrive.
Download our free Navigating Assisted Living: Essential Insights for Families guide to learn more.