Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay Achieves Silver Level Certification as a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® Community

SARASOTA, FL –The team at Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay’s Starr Memory Care is devoted to building a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® 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 older adults with dementia. Guided by CARD, staff learned how to implement the Montessori principles of equality, dignity, and respect into 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 they can thrive in, and helping them find purposeful activities and meaningful roles within their community.

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.

About Plymouth Harbor: Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay is a nonprofit Life Plan Community located on the scenic shores of Sarasota’s Coon Key. Established in 1966, it is home to more than 300 residents in independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Known for its iconic 25-story tower, the tallest residential building in Sarasota, Plymouth Harbor offers a vibrant, resort-style lifestyle supported by a continuum of care, exceptional amenities, and a strong commitment to wellness, hospitality, and community. With a reputation for excellence and innovation in senior living, Plymouth Harbor continues to set the standard for retirement living on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

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Sasha Madrid

Communications Coordinator