Comments on: Reading and Dementia

By: Angie

Angie — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:28:22 +0000

You are right to be cautious at first and to give some thought to what you read in this situation. If I were you I would begin by just reading to your mother alone. You can find out the sort of thing she enjoys and learn what works and what does not and become familiar with both reading aloud and how best to present poems and prose to someone living with dementia. When you feel confident and ready to read to others, go to the staff and explain what you would like to do. By that time you will be able to describe the benefits of reading aloud and hopefully they will lend their support. The Reader Organisation offers various forms of training so if you are interested, have a look at our website.
Last year we published a book called A Little, Aloud: an anthology of prose and poetry for reading aloud to someone you care for. This is published by Chatto and Windus and is available in bookshops, or through the shop on our website. It is a collection of stories and poems all of which I have read with my groups of elderly residents in care homes and you will find the poems in there very suitable to read to your mother. Poems that have strong rhythms and poems that might have been learned in childhood are often successful in your circumstance. Always read the material first and if you think something might upset her, you can leave it until you are more sure of yourself. I find that poems nearly always prompt memories and it is difficult to judge in advance what will upset someone so trust the poems in this book but remember that tears are not always a bad thing. Some people need to revisit past experience. If you find that your mother’s concentration is good enough, you can try some of the stories too.
Another useful collection of poems is One Hundred Favourite Poems: Poems for all occasions chosen by Classic FM listeners (Hodder and Stoughton) You will find lots of familiar poems in here.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

By: Denise Foulger

Denise Foulger — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:05:13 +0000

hi my mum has a type of dementia and find it difficult to read normal books. I would love to have a good book of poetry suitable for me to read to my mum and or other people in her care home.
i would worry whether the subject matter was suitable for some people hwo might be sad that they have been seperated fromtheir family or their homes and possesions. Ot that the owners of care homes would be suspicious of a laqy person wanting to read tho thier resicents. Can anyone offer me advice.

By: Maggie Pollard

Maggie Pollard — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:20:14 +0000

I read an article in The Times on Saturday which really sparked the idea in me of reading poetry to dementia patients, as my mum is now 94 and in a care home. She doesn’t converse very much, and I could relate to the long time dementia patients spend without talking or interacting. This has really made me think what a brilliant idea it would be to go into care homes and read poetry and I would be happy to join people who would like to be involved in this very worthwhile activity. If there are any courses available I would certainly like to come along.

By: Poetry and Dementia: A Little, Aloud « IsobelandCat's Blog

Poetry and Dementia: A Little, Aloud « IsobelandCat's Blog — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:00:06 +0000

[...] Read it here yourself, and see what you think.#mce_temp_url# [...]

By: Zygos Community Links

Zygos Community Links — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:46:12 +0000

“One sheds one’s sickness in books.” D. H. Lawrence…

Books that heal: bibliotherapy banishes vexations of soul. Maybe….

By: The Southport Drinker

The Southport Drinker — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:40:38 +0000

I was moved by this post, it brought back memories of my grandfather in his dotage, in his care home, wild hair and desperate eyes. Among his prized possessions were chocolate, a Folio collection of Irish short stories and poems by Yeats. He would read and remember and recite. Reading poetry, remembering poetry was a brief escape from the confusion. It brought us together again, as when I was a child.