Swinnen, A. M. (2014). "Healing words: A study of poetry interventions in dementia care." Dementia (London).: "The personhood movement in dementia research has established the theoretical foundation for implementing cultural arts interventions in care practices. The underlying assumption is that professionals from the visual and the performance arts are well equipped to see the person behind the condition and to focus on possibilities for meaningful relationships in the here and now. This article focuses on poetry interventions as one example of cultural arts interventions.
The use of poetry might seem counterintuitive, given that people with dementia lose their language abilities and that poetry is regarded to be the most complex literary form. I will argue that expanding on existing research on ... Poetry interventions from a health and science perspective with a humanities approach will help illuminate how poetry works to enhance the exchange with people with dementia. Drawing on participant observations of poetry interventions by Gary Glazner (Alzheimer's Poetry Project, USA) at the New York Memory Center, I will frame poetry interventions as a specific form of oral poetry in which people with dementia are positioned as cocreators of embodied texts and directly benefit from the power of the spoken word."
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Have you been touched by Parkinson's disease? Here is an opportunity to share your story in poetic form.
Thirty or so people are being invited to submit three poems to be published in the Touched by Poetry series. The deadline in February 10, 2016. The first anthology will be entitled: Touched By Parkinson's, a Healing Journey Through Poetry. This anthology is open to anyone who has Parkinson's disease, has a family member or friend with Parkinson's, works with people with Parkinson's or has in some way been touched by Parkinson's and wants to contribute their story and inspiration. There is interesting research on the healing benefits of sharing your story, listening to other people with a similar condition and of the images a poet can create with poetry. Other topics being considered for future books in the Touched by Poetry series include: Multiple Sclerosis, Macular Degeneration, Down Syndrome, Huntington's Ataxia, Diabetes, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Autism, Breast Cancer, Addictions, Strokes / Heart Attack, Aids / HIV, and ... YOU can suggest a future topic if you would like. |
Kimberly Burnham, PhD, Spokane PoetCategories
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