AMI Talks - A Dignity-Centred Approach: Montessori Principles for Dementia and Ageing
On Tuesday, 6 January 2026, Anne Kelly and Julia Ballesteros presented our AMI Talk on A Dignity-Centred Approach: Montessori Principles for Dementia and Ageing.
Montessori education cultivates autonomy, equality, and community and these values were reflected and elaborated in the first talk of 2026: our speakers explored how Montessori principles have gained significant traction in dementia, disability, and aged-care settings worldwide.
Click the links to access the recordings.
Anne Kelly
Anne Kelly is a registered nurse and Head of Montessori for Dementia, Disability and Ageing for the Association Montessori Internationale. She is also the Director of Montessori Consulting in Australia. Anne also holds qualifications in Post Graduate Dementia Management, Assessment and Workplace Training and Dementia Care Mapping. She has worked extensively in aged and dementia care both residential and community for over 40 years. In 2009 she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to further study Montessori methods for Dementia Care.
Anne is considered an Australian and World leader in Montessori Methods for aged care and dementia. She is the chair of the Association of Montessori Internationale Scientific Pedagogical Committee on Montessori for Dementia and Ageing.
Her training is motivational, inspiring and she has been asked to speak about Montessori and the potential it has to change the lives of elderly people including those people living with dementia at many organisations and conferences both in Australia and across the world. In 2017, she published "Forgetfulness, Feelings and Farnarkling", a book that examines where aged care has come from, where we are now and where we need to be.
Julia Ballesteros Sentíes
Julia Ballesteros Sentíes, founder of Nuúp honra.conecta, Licensed Therapist in Human Communication, has worked with adults for more than 20 years, specialising in cognitive neurorehabilitation. Julia's current clinical practice focuses on providing language therapy, counselling, workshops and Montessori programming for adults at home, in day centres and in long-term care residences.
Julia is certified by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) as a Montessori Guide for Children's House. Recognising the fact that Montessori is a philosophy of life for all ages, Julia studied to become the first person in Mexico to obtain the AMI Practitioner Certificate in Montessori for Dementia and Aging. She has joined the Brush Development team as an AMI Auxiliary Educator and currently offers Montessori workshops that focus on helping seniors maintain their independence, make decisions and participate actively in their community.
Julia firmly believes that people should feel connected to each other, feel useful, loved and honoured, live a life full of meaning, asserting each moment, focusing on the possibilities, based on the laws of nature.
