Sweet Readers began with a heartwarming interaction between three generations of women determined to make the most of a challenging situation. In 2010, Grandma Dorothy (“GD”), moved to the city following an early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis to be closer to her daughter Karen and granddaughter Sophie. Sophie began reading to GD and at age ten, became the lead reader, integrating poetry, art and music, at GD’s adult day program.
Observing the profound impact on both Sophie and the adult participants, Karen consulted a geriatrician who encouraged her to build a training program based on Sophie’s interactions. Karen and Sophie collaborated with artists, educators, and medical professionals to develop the Sweet Readers Method of Creative Human Engagement and launched the first pilot at the American Folk Art Museum in April 2011.
Within six months, Sweet Readers expanded to MoMA, The Jewish Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. These partnerships, along with collaborators and the founding Sweet Readers, helped to refine the methodology, focusing on the power of community and intergenerational engagement. Karen and Sophie tested the model with a variety of schools and eldercare centers to support adults with varying stages of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and students from diverse backgrounds with different ways of learning.
