Humor VS Dementia

In a shift report from back in 2011, one of our clowns documented a resident with Alzheimer’s saying: “I don’t think I’ll ever stop laughing!”

So, what’s the big deal about laughing and dementia?

A few months ago, in an AARP Bulletin article, a comedian was hired to work with an Alzheimer’s patient.

“I hired Sue to work with my mother for 10 hours a week. Within days of meeting Sue, she started eating again. Even during the hours that Sue wasn’t there, my mother was more engaged with people, waving hello and reaching out for contact with the aides and the other residents… It was nothing short of remarkable.” -AARP Bulletin (June 2018)

***Grand Circus Rounds Annual Fundraiser – October 7, 2018***

The best part about being in this field for nearly 10 years is getting to see the growth and acknowledgement of laughter as a form of healing in healthcare institutions.

“Older people may be especially likely to use humor as a coping mechanism. Some institutions are incorporating comedy into therapeutic interventions for patients who have dementia.” -Dementia.org

And here’s a radio interview on the SMILE study done in Australia led by researchers and therapists, who’ve found “an average 20% reduction in agitation levels in the treatment group.”

We’re at an incredible time and place to be an organization currently serving Bay Area hospitals and assisted living facilities where over 70% of the patients we serve are in memory care.

So, as we continue to push forward and continue to provide therapeutic medical clowning to elderly and dementia patients, we’d LOVE to include you in our big endeavors by inviting you to our end of the year annual fundraising event: Grand Circus Rounds.

Together, we can help keep laughter and discovering humor as a regular form of therapy in healthcare institutions.

See you on October 7th!

P.S. If you missed our latest THANK YOU Video, here it is.