The Hazelwell’s Poem Group

Over the past few months, our residents have been asking our home's Activities Coordinator, Kathy, if she could organise a poetry reading and discussion group. Kathy was more than happy to organise this for them and it quickly became a massive success.

Each week, our library is full of residents and their loved ones where they can read poems and talk about them afterwards. To help everyone understand the context of these poems, we also play a documentary about the chosen poet for that week which our residents have found very informative and beneficial.

So far, each session that we have had has raised lots of laughter and provoked conversations between our residents. At our care home, it is important to us that all of our residents have the opportunity to socialise with one another, so they can form friendships. This is especially important for the elderly as isolation and loneliness can affect their mental well-being massively.

Participating in a group activity, such as a poetry group, can offer a multitude of benefits for elderly individuals, particularly in combating loneliness and isolation. Firstly, these gatherings provide a sense of belonging and social connection, offering opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations and build friendships. Not only this, poetry, can serve as a powerful medium for self-expression, allowing seniors to share their thoughts, experiences and emotions, thereby fostering a sense of validation and understanding among peers. Moreover, the structured nature of a poetry group can stimulate mental agility, enhancing cognitive function and offering a productive outlet for creative expression. Overall, such group activities not only alleviate the often overwhelming feelings of loneliness and isolation that many elderly individuals face but also promote mental and emotional well-being, contributing to a more fulfilling and enriched life in one's golden years.

We continue to take suggestions from our residents about what they would like to do and we have created a resident-led activities programme that has something for everyone to enjoy.