The Alzheimer's Poetry Project Minnesota (APP-MN)’s mission is to facilitate and enhance the creativity and well-being of older Minnesotans, and to help amplify their voices and stories in our society.

Key Aspects of APP-MN:

Mission

  • To enhance creativity and well-being for Minnesotans with memory loss.

Methodology

  • Call and Response: Facilitators recite a line from a classic poem, and the group echoes it.
  • Group Composition: Simple prompts or open-ended questions are used to help participants compose original group poems.
  • Focus on Performance: The emphasis is on the fun of saying poems together, rather than analysis.

Impact

  • Encourages verbalization of memories and social interaction.
  • Promotes positive emotions and a sense of surprise and joy.
  • Builds community and supports caregivers by fostering deeper connections with loved ones, according to a 2025 Wiley article.

Intergenerational Collaboration

  • APP-MN has also led projects that bring elders together with younger people, such as preschool and middle school students, to share creative experiences.

Founding

  • The project is a local initiative of the national Alzheimer’s Poetry Project, founded by Gary Glazner.