Glazner Gives Talk at the Poetry Therapy, International Festival in Monza, Italy

Poetry Therapy, International Festival in Monza, Italy

American poet Gary Glazner will review the practices of the Alzheimer's Poetry Project he directed and which has become the most applied project with Alzheimer's patients in the world. He will work with Paola Perfetti, the drama therapist at the Dementia Village Il Paese Ritrovato.

Afternoon 14.30-18

Practicing poetry as a cure

Moderate Dr. Paolo Maria Manzalini

Paola Perfetti “The poem in Il Paese Ritrovato. An example of poetry therapy applied to people affected by dementia”

Gary Glazner (USA) “The Alzheimer Poetry Project”

Dimitra Didangelou (Greece/Belgium) “From silence to expression. The power of words in moments of loss”

Ines Testoni and Laura Liberale “Before the words to access the word”

Alberto Urro and Michele Dalpozzo “Education- care and narration: theater and narrative

medicine workshops for the humanization of care and for support to the adolescent population”

Dome Bulfaro “Cultivate your inner garden with care”


CNN Headline: Poetry offers space for tribal elders with dementia to express themselves

Alzheimer’s Poetry Project founder Gary Glazner visited the Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team’s office in Duluth and showed the team his technique for creating poetry, which includes employing call-and-response and asking open-ended questions.

Glazner said the act of creating poetry together helps caregivers understand their loved ones in a new way.

I’m Still Here Grant

We are excited to announce the expansion of Poetry on Wheels in partnership with the Oneida Nation. Poetry on Wheels is a participatory arts program designed for elders and people living with dementia. We will lead monthly Poetry Parties at the Community Center in Oneida, WI. This project is funded by I’m Still Here Foundation and Bader Philanthropies.

More info at: I’m Still Here

Jumping to Poetry

As our American Rescue Plan Act Home and Community-Based Services Grant Initiative comes to an end of a year’s programing and teaching our partner Community Care, Inc. staff members the APP methods, we will share some of the highlights.

Here is a moment of joy from one of the Poetry for Life sessions.

Institute for Dementia Education and Arts (IDEA)

As Poet-in-Residence for Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care (CSL), Chicago Scots, Glazner launches Institute for Dementia Education and Arts (IDEA)

IDEA is a new training concept to increase the knowledge and skills of professional and family caregivers interested in “best practices” dementia training for life enrichment through the arts. Using in-person and on-line models of training developed with a national team of dementia experts and staff from Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care, IDEA will be Illinois-wide and national in its scope.

It is a powerful concept to use a care home as the anchor for the Institute for Dementia Education and Arts (IDEA). We build on more than a century of innovative care at Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care (CSL). This project allows us to take that tradition beyond the walls of our campus to create the future of elder care. “Creativity in Elder Care” training will increase the knowledge and skills of professionals and family caregivers.