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Sparking Memories: The Alzheimer’s Poetry Project Anthology
Sparking Memories: The Alzheimer's Poetry Project Anthology has 75 of the poems we use in the project, essays with tips on how to use the poems, on why caregiving matters and on the medical implications of using poetry with dementia. It's a toolbox for family members and activity directors; it's full of useful information on using poetry to help you connect to people living with dementia. It is our strong desire that this book be of use to you.
Alzheimer’s Poetry Project
The Alzheimer’s Poetry Project is based on a simple idea, to read classic poems to people living with Alzheimer's disease that they might have learned as children.
Background- During a period of six years a new approach to engage participants with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia in the performative aspects of poetry and to create new poems was developed.
Results- Data indicates that a significant number of people in mid to late stage dementia remember words and lines from poems they learned in childhood. Moreover, the participants show a high level of positive facial expressions, laughter, verbalizing memories, and robust social interactions. Of interest is the use of call and response, where the session leader recites a line from a well-known poem and the group echoes the line. Coupling this performance technique with a simple prompt or opened ended question enables a group poem to be composed, based on the participant's responses.
Conclusion- The findings led to the development of a training system for artists, family members and healthcare workers in using poetry with dementia.
Our Mission
Our goal is to facilitate the creativity of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. We strive to advocate for cultural change in the healthcare industry and for the daily inclusion of arts in assisted living and adult day care. Further, we do not set boundaries in our beliefs in what possible for people with memory impairment to create.
By saying to people with dementia, we value you; we are saying we value all members of our community. By working with health care professionals and giving them a tool to have fun with and stimulate the people they serve, we are saying we value your work. By working with family members who have a loved one with dementia, we are saying you are not alone in your struggle to treat your loved one with dignity.
We hope this book is of use to you.…