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Community, Health, and Family

Using poetry to improve the wellbeing of Indigenous Elders living with dementia Antonio Paniagua Guzman*, Antonio Paniagua Guzman,

Successful person-centered art-based behavioral interventions have been developed to serve people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers. Over the last decade, there has been a growing interest in the use of language-based art forms such as fictional composition and poetry. Previous studies have shown that the practice of poetry has the potential of improving health, cognitive, and communicational outcomes of PLWD, and can be an effective mechanism to improve the relationships between PLWD and their caregivers. While important and impactful poetry-based interventions for PLWD have been developed, none of them has been specifically designed to serve Indigenous populations in the U.S. based on culturally safe practices. Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework and Indigenous methodologies, this study was conducted in collaboration with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe in Minnesota. During the summer of 2025, eight poetry sessions were facilitated by two community members and included an average of twelve participants per session, comprising people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers. Drawing on pre- and post-intervention interviews and observational data collected throughout the program, the study team assessed impacts across five domains: memory, language, communication, emotional outcomes, and cultural identity. Preliminary findings indicate positive effects on PLWD–caregiver communication and on the regulation of PLWD’ behavioral outcomes. In addition, the practice of spoken word poetry within an Indigenous context emerged as a meaningful tool for cultural expression and knowledge preservation. Finally, the study highlights multiple benefits of employing a CBPR framework in Indigenous health research.