Anyone who’s ever had a loved one suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia understands how heart-wrenching the decline in memory can be — for both patients and caregivers.
Those afflicted can seem lost or locked within their own minds, often unable to remember or communicate.
Molly Middleton Meyer lost both of her parents within a short time to Alzheimer’s five years ago, and was frustrated with traditional therapies used with her parents, like singing preschool songs, or hitting balloons around — “keep ‘em busy” activities she saw as mindless and dehumanizing.
She set out to prove that people suffering from dementia are still able to experience joy and creativity.
Meyer founded Mind’s Eye Poetry in 2013 in Dallas, Texas, and has since made a career out of helping her unique method helps her “poetic patients“ access memories and imagination by using their ideas, phrases, words, and even nonverbal cues. She knew music therapy was already an effective tool in reaching those with dementia — but with limited benefits.
“Most music therapy does not encourage participation and interaction with others,” says Meyer. “It does not stimulate the telling of stories, or even the awakening of long-forgotten words. Poetry therapy draws people out, validates their ideas, and empowers them.”
During a one hour poetry facilitation, Meyer is usually able to write three to six poems with her patients, including many who’ve not spoken in days or weeks. She says it’s not uncommon for them to suddenly “wake up” and add relevant words and even complete memories to the poem in progress — with incredibly emotional results.
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“To hear someone speak who hasn’t said a word in weeks, or to watch tears of joy rush down someone’s face because they’ve remembered something long forgotten is the greatest feeling in the world,” says Meyer. “I get more hugs per week than anyone I know.”
Dr. Daniel Potts is an attending neurologist at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center and founder of the Cognitive Dynamics Foundation in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He’s also a poet whose father started watercolor painting after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Potts says he witnessed his dad benefit from that creative expression, and says poetry is also powerful in “tapping to the core of human beings and uncovering elements of their personhood.”
“People are being led back to themselves, and to their loved ones,” he added.
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As a facilitator, speaker, consultant, Meyer has worked with hundreds of people in all stages of the disease. For those in advanced stages, she brings sensory props — items to look at, touch, and listen to, which relate to the poems she’s reciting, and provides another dimension of cognitive stimulation.
The response to Meyer’s unique approach is overwhelmingly positive. Laurie Kidder works at MyCare Personal Assistance, an elder care provider in Dallas, and one of many facilities that’s embraced Mind’s Eye Poetry.
“It is amazing to watch these awakenings with patients, who have been unable to communicate, emerge from their shell, capture their elusive words, and craft poems with real meaning, rhythm and lyricism,” says Kidder. “This creative endeavor is a therapy that is fun, empowering and a healing balm for them.”
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Missy Griffin, Life Experience Director at U.S. Memory Care, says through poetry, their residents are able to tap into memories caregivers and families assumed they’d lost to their illness.
“Most of our residents need help in feeling a sense of accomplishment or purpose, expressing creativity, sparking a special memory or past time, and even just experiencing a moment of joy,” says Griffin. “We love it, the family members love it, but most importantly, our residents love it.”
Brenda Myers’ mother has not been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but is in cognitive decline and regularly participates in Mind’s Eye poetry sessions. Myers has worked with seniors for thirty years and says Meyer’s Mind’s Eye Poetry program is a game-changer in geriatric care.
“She inspires creativity with patience, empathy, and enthusiasm. Through her, stories and memories are brought back to life,” says Myers. “Our future can only be made better with people like Molly creating ideas from compassion.”Image may be NSFW.
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