‘Clownin’ around leads to long life

The adage ‘laughter is the best medicine’ may be true after a Queensland Laughter Boss Workshop proved successful.

The staff development program was conducted by one of Australia’s original clown doctors, Dr Peter Spitzer, to teach aged care staff clown therapy techniques.

Clown therapy, where clowns parody the roles of doctors and nurses, aims to help deliver comic relief for patients and residents.

While clown therapy was initiated in paediatric wards in large urban centres, it has expanded to a range of healthcare settings during the past decade. 

Dr Spitzer and a group of doctors received a National Health and Medical Research Council grant to trial Sydney Multisite Intervention of Laughter bosses and Elder fields (SMILE).

Dr Spitzer bedazzled about 30 Lutheran Community Care and Tabeel Lutheran Home employees with laughter tools, magical tricks and humour techniques.

He brought humour props such as puppets, ducks, magic wands, violins, balloons, Rocky the Racoon and taught games to unleash unexpected and spontaneous laughter. 

“If you have a positive spirit in a place it makes a difference to the journey of the residents,” Dr Spitzer said.

“The spirit of humour is evident at Tabeel; you feel, see it and it’s embedded in the residents’ smiles.” 

Dr Spitzer has brought laughter to the elderly and children in war torn countries like East Timor, Jerusalem and has compiled valuable research in Europe, Germany, the United Kingdom and America.  

Tabeel’s general manager, Roland Weier, said the experimential workshop was empowering.

“Noise was not frowned upon, nor was playing the joker. Instead, laughter was used as a resource, inspiration and creativity tool,” he said.

The Tabeel Lutheran Home has two laughter clowns, Christina Seaton-Thomson and Tonia Cameron, who often dress up spontaneously.

“It keeps the residents occupied and feeling happy; that’s the reason we do it — to take away boredom.

“Seniors living in residential care facilities can use clowns to promote wellness and improve quality of life through the use of laughter, music and improvised play,” Ms Seaton-Thomson said.

Tabeel clinical nurse consultant, Ms Seaton-Thomson, started clowning around at the service 18 months ago after attending a conference in Sydney with Dr Spitzer.

“The residents love [clown therapy]. They laugh and it’s something they’re not expecting but it always makes a difference and brings a smile to their faces — it’s also therapeutic to the staff,” she said.

Humour therapy has been found to reduce agitation in aged residents by 20% which was comparable to the use of antipsychotic drugs.

Recent research also suggested some older people who use humour as a way of coping with the challenges of ageing might experience a range of benefits.

“They could be more likely to live longer, age well, and be more satisfied with their physical health and experience a better quality of life,” Dr Spitzer said.

“Take risks and nudge the boundaries; allow your heart to be open and trust,” he added.