Part One: Introductory. Part Two: Reading Poetry. 2.1 What Poems to Choose. 2.2. Building a Programme. Part Three: Writing Poetry. 3.1. Group-Work and One-to-Ones. 3.2. How to Run Groups. 3.3. Examples of Group-Work Poems. 3.4. Why Do One-to-Ones? 3.5. How to do One-to-Ones? 3.6. The Art of Listening. 3.7. The Art of Transcribing. 3.8. The Art of Editing. 3.9. Ways of Sharing. 3.10. The Present Moment. 3.11. Portraits. Part Four: Issues Arising. 4.1. Ownership of Poems. 4.2. Truth-Telling. 4.3. Aims and Objects. 4.4. Therapeutic Approaches. 4.5. Support for the Poet. 4.6. Evaluation. Part Five: Postscript. Part Six: Resources. 6.1. Recommendations and References. 6.2. Books and Articles. 6.3. Organizations and Websites.
A guide to facilitating the writing and reading of poetry with people who have dementia for improved mental health and wellbeing
John Killick has been the Writer in Residence and Poet Mentor on several Poetry and Dementia projects over the last 25 years. He currently runs a residential Poetry and Dementia course in Wales.
In this wonderful distillation of long experience John Killick
shows us the potential of poetry both as a way of stimulating
discussion, and of enabling people with dementia to have a voice.
Using his own work and that of colleagues, he provides careful
guidance which will be invaluable. -- Professor Mary Marshall,
Senior Consultant, HammondCare
In his book John shows how by being a skilled listener you can
capture what seems to be garbled, mixed-up thinking and using
literature knowledge, turn it into a work of art, and present this
gift back to the person with dementia in the form of their own
personal poem. I felt humbled by this work. -- Agnes Houston
MBE
John Killick's work over many years has shown how poetry, through
many and varied means, can contribute massively to well-being for
people living with dementia. This wise, clear guidance, with choice
examples of poems and illuminating accounts, is sure to encourage
and help others develop their skills in this rewarding area. -- Sue
Benson, Managing Editor, Journal of Dementia Care
In this eminently accessible book, John generously and honestly
offers a wealth of advice, guidance and resources that emanate from
a lifetime of work in using poetry to hear the voices of people
with dementia and to capture their lived experience. John carefully
explains the craft of using poetry as a medium for positive
person-centred work and in doing so makes this book compulsory
reading for anyone involved or interested in poetry and dementia.
-- Maria Pasiecznik Parsons, Chief Executive, Creative Dementia
Arts Network
Described as a practical guide, it is easy to read and yet conveys
the complexity of the effects of the condition dementia and ways of
using poetry effectively. His understanding and experience of the
work gives authority to his explanation and I found it easy to
grasp. [...] I felt that Killick summed up what is now the
fundament of my practice when working with people of dementia,
'Acts of kindness are what people with dementia need' -- Clare
Scott, Chair, Lapidus International * Lapidus Quarterly *
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