Clown therapy program extends to homes’ staff
Residents have more opportunity to laugh, remember happy times
Friday August 27, 2010 -- Lisa Bailey
A clown therapy program that engages long-term care residents in stimulating social, physical and mental fun has extended to staff members at Richmond Terrace.

Holly Harris, the home’s volunteer co-ordinator, was among about eight other staff members at the Apans-operated home in Amherstburg to begin training recently to become Laughter-Bosses.

Already one who enjoys laughing and interacting with residents thanks to her bubbly personality, Harris says it’s “not a stretch” for her to volunteer for the role of incorporating smiles and fun into her daily work routine.

“I’m excited that we’re a part of the first opportunity to do it, so people can see that this could be a wonderful thing to do and it’s important to make people laugh,” Harris says.

The Laughter-Boss program, expected to run for 16 weeks, was launched by Fools for Health, and is utilizing a $97,700 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.

Fools for Health uses the arts to promote health and well-being in hospitals and long-term care homes across southwestern Ontario.

It’s also part of an international network of collaborative research on humour in these settings.

Laughter-Bosses are to augment Fools for Health’s existing Familial-Clowns, a group that regularly engages residents through music, humour, improvisational play and reminiscence therapy.

Their work is known to stimulate memory and improve cognitive functioning and communication skills.

“It’s carrying on the laughter and fun as often as we can,” says Richmond Terrace rehabilitation manager Allison Green, who sits on Fools for Health’s board and volunteered to become a Laughter-Boss to learn more about the behind-the-scenes applications.

Training began July 23 at Richmond Terrace, one of three initial homes to host the Laughter-Boss program.

Harris, who made the rounds with Familial-Clowns as part of training, says their presence had a positive impact.

Staff members smiled and seemed excited, with some of them even singing along to the group’s songs.

“Any kind of laughter and fun is certainly a stress reliever,” Green notes.

“How can you not be happy around people who are laughing?” Harris asks.

Harris recalls one relatively new resident at the home smiling, laughing and reminiscing after spotting colourful ribbons the group had. The resident said the ribbon looked like one of her husband’s ties and she tied them accordingly.

“She was so interested, it was just great,” Harris says.

For her, the “most beautiful part” of the experience was the “smiles in their eyes” as residents sang with the group.

Harris adds that the Laughter-Boss program will create more opportunities like this for residents.

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