POETS and storytellers have been visiting care homes in Scotland and finding their way with words can help relax dementia sufferers.
The project, instigated by the Scottish Poetry Library and the Scottish Storytelling Centre in response to the growing elderly population, has also helped pensioners who had become withdrawn to join in activities.
A report commissioned to assess the scheme, called Living Voices, found the sessions involving poetry, tales and song calmed some residents who were anxious - and this effect lasted after the artists had gone.
Many residents, who are encouraged to share their memories and make requests during the sessions, reported it had lifted their mood when surveyed about the programme.
The report, compiled by research consultancy Blake Stevenson, is to be published on Monday.
In it, care home staff tell of the change Living Voices has made to some of the pensioners' lives.
One resident was reportedly "so shy she absolutely refused to leave her room and mingle". She even feigned illness so she could eat her meals alone. However, in the report a care home worker says she changed dramatically after tentatively attending Living Voices, adding: "She started joining in all our arts activities, quizzes, sing-songs etc... It was magical."
In a separate case study, a dementia sufferer who was very agitated first experienced Living Voices by sitting outside the room with the door open. However, she started tapping her feet to a song, and came in asking: "Can I say hello to everyone?" She happily joined in the next session.
Other residents talk about the events lifting their mood. "I'm not fussed on poetry, but you do it well, so it's good," said one.
In a survey about one of the sessions, 98% of residents agreed it had helped them feel relaxed and 89% said it helped improve their mood.
There were, however, also occasions when individuals became restless or increasingly anxious during sessions and therefore left part way through.
The project is running in 16 care homes in Aberdeen, South Ayrshire and Perth and Kinross.
Emma Faragher, project manager for Living Voices, said patterns and rhythms within language can speak to people in different ways - even if they find direct conversation difficult.
Certain poems have emerged as particular favourites, such as I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth and parts of Tam O' Shanter by Robert Burns, which many learned at school. However, there have been surprise hits including The Lion and Albert by Marriott Edgar, and A Blessing by modern American poet James Wright.
Published poets Ken Cockburn and Sheila Templeton are among those delivering the sessions, along with musician Christine Kidd and storytellers. They are supported by a volunteer and each session costs £250, but care homes are not charged this fee.
Mrs Faragher said: "We went into this project thinking it was all about improving the wellbeing in the care home, but found it gives a great sense of improvement and wellbeing across the board." She said the sessions helped create a focus and a "buzz" in the care homes, stimulating conversations and new memories.
"We are noticing something that is very unexpected, which is the impact on social engagement across the care home," she said. "In the run-up to a session people will be talking about it and looking forward to it and in some cases remembering above and beyond what might be expected of the last session."
The full results of the Living Voices project will be unveiled by makar Liz Lochhead at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh on Monday.
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