April is National Poetry Month, a time to celebrate words that inspire, heal, and connect. At ALC Health, part of Assistenza Healthcare, we’re honoring older adults by sharing poems that celebrate aging’s joys and acknowledge its challenges. Poetry offers older adults and caregivers a creative outlet to reflect on life’s later years, fostering emotional well-being and community. Through our full-continuum care – Primary Care@Home, Advanced Wound Care, Home Health, and Hospice Care – we see every day how creative expression enhances vibrant aging. Let’s explore how poetry uplifts older adults, drawing from recent research and timeless verses.
Poetry’s Celebration and Solace in Aging
Poems about aging capture its vibrancy and struggles, resonating with older adults and caregivers. Joy Harjo’s Perhaps the World Ends Here celebrates life’s shared moments at the kitchen table: “It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human.” This ode to connection inspires seniors to cherish community, aligning with ALC’s mission to enable older adults to age in place with dignity and comfort. Jenny Joseph’s Warning humorously embraces aging’s freedoms: “When I am an old woman I shall wear purple / With a red hat which doesn’t go.” It encourages older adults to live boldly.
Yet poetry also validates aging’s challenges. Carl Phillips’ Blue (2023 Pulitzer Prize winner) reflects on fleeting time: “So that each is its own, now — each a fallen, blond stillness.” Its quiet introspection comforts seniors facing loss. For caregivers, Ellen Miller’s The Long Goodbye captures Alzheimer’s grief: “We’ve watched your thoughts get more obscure with every passing day.” Shared on caregiver platforms, it fosters empathy and support.
How Poetry Improves Older Adults’ Lives
Poetry boosts well-being by enhancing cognitive function, emotional expression, and social bonds. According to a 2022 study, reading or reciting poems stimulates the brain, improving memory and concentration through rhythm and rhyme. Writing poetry engages thinking and wordcraft, strengthening cognitive skills and potentially reducing dementia risk. For example, crafting a haiku offers structure and creativity, giving aging adults a sense of accomplishment.
Poetry also serves as a powerful emotional outlet. Seniors can express joy, nostalgia, or grief, especially those facing isolation or health challenges. Writing about life experiences such as cherished memories can help reduce stress and anxiety. Group poetry readings build community, combating loneliness, a key mental health factor. Caregivers benefit, too. Sharing verses can ease daily stresses and build connections with loved ones.
Poetry’s Benefits for Dementia
Research highlights poetry’s therapeutic impact for dementia patients. A 2014 Alzheimer’s Poetry Project study found that interactive sessions, using call-and-response with poems like A Red, Red Rose, improved mood and engagement in seniors with memory loss. Participants experienced “moments of joy” and less agitation, as rhythm tapped into emotional memory. A 2016 Mind’s Eye Poetry workshop saw over 800 poems created by dementia patients, with tactile prompts like seashells sparking vivid responses, such as “wind peppering my cheek.” These activities enhance quality of life. Some dementia patients have been observed to briefly “reappear” through verse and music.
Poetry and ALC’s Care
At ALC Health, we weave holistic approaches into our care. Our Primary Care@Home team might share a poem to build connection with a patient, while Hospice staff use verses for comfort. Our music therapist enhances hospice visits by playing rhythmic music and singing poetic song lyrics, fostering emotional connection for patients and families. We’ve been honored to share in some remarkable end-of-life stories enhanced by the power of music and verse. Poetry complements our services, supporting emotional and mental well-being alongside physical care.
Join Us in Celebrating Poetry
This National Poetry Month, share a poem with a senior or caregiver. Visit AssistenzaHealth.com or call 630-333-9885 to learn how Assistenza Healthcare and ALC Health support vibrant aging. Have a favorite poem about aging? Share it on Facebook or LinkedIn with #NationalPoetryMonth and #ALChealth. Let’s weave poetry into aging well!