John Killick
John Killick has spent the last ten years talking and listening to people with dementia and writing poetry and prose based on their conversations – he believes that what these people have to say can be highly illuminating and insightful. He has published two poetry books with people with dementia: 'You Are Words' and 'Openings', which are available at
Find out more about John's work on his
Complain about this postI work with Austistic Adults and we use a Picture Exchange Symbol to communicate with some of them. Can John tell me if this system has ever been tried with Dementia patients. Signing and uaing pictures can only help in cummunicating with those people who who no longer understand what we are talking about.
I would like to thank John for the work he is doing. My mother sufferd from demetia or, as it seemed, went feral. She had to go into a home were I was told that she didn't understand anything. This I found quite upsetting as she obviously did to the extent that when matron asked if she wanted to sit with the other residents her reply was 'no they are all mad'. Like John I learned to listen, to sort through the apparent rubbish; this all gave me a wonderful insight into human nature as yes, she was just being amazingly honest and describing her feelings with great clarity. I wish a John could have gone into visit her as she desperatly needed people to listen and take her seriously.
Complain about this postlistened with interest to your poems, and method of getting to the person with dementia. I have a grandchild with aserger sydrome, I think your sympathatic approach to getting to the real person would help such as Conner( my grandson). He has trouble expressing himself, and we have tried to do a prolile book to give to teachers etc, at his seconary school which has 2000 pupils. It is always good to explore alll avenues of communication, any information or ideas are helpful. do you think your way of working might be taylored to the Connor's of this world. regards valbarker
Complain about this postLovely programme again Fi--thanks very much. And many thanks too to John Killick--my mum (82) is in the early stages of dementia (and has been given aricept--hurrah!). John's words and work have inspired and given me a new and helpful perspective on dementia. Most importantly he helps to recapture meaning--both for the sufferer and the listener. Yes!
Complain about this postMy mother (aged 83) has recently been diagnosed with dementia. She also has bipolar disorder which was treated for 20 years with lithium. Before this time she was a writer of short stories and poems, many of which were published. During her time on lithium, she was not interested in writing. She rarely showed emotions (eg she never shed tears after my dad died) though she was great company. Since coming off lithium (although she is on other medication) raw emotion comes through in her speech and her actions. Her words sometimes overwhelm me with their simplicity, insight and sheer beauty of language - I don't think it is just because I am her daughter. I want to do what you are doing but unfortunately I do not have the skills that you have to turn rambling speech into poetry. I was enthralled by your words and would love you to meet her. I know she would respond to you as she relates particularly well to men - she may flirt outrageously with you if you can risk that! If your schedule is too busy perhaps you could offer me some advice as to how to turn her words into poetry.
Complain about this postRegards
Janet Thornley
thank you for this very interesting item .My husband is suffering with frontal temporal dementia which has affected his expressive speech and more recently his perceptual hearing ,coupled with reduced coignitive abilities .He has worked as a project engineer and is very frustrated with his inabilities to communicate ,but he is still very much an individual in his own right and does not have memory problems as such.If you were able to access it his poetry might be very interesting .
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