For years, I never thought
anyone couldn’t love a clown. I finally met such a person in my neighborhood. She has coulrophobia, an irrational fear of clowns. Doctors and scientists say that the fear
comes from not knowing the identity of the person behind the excessive makeup.
The clown’s makeup and ability to break social behavior norms create a state of
panic causing the observer to have difficulty
in breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea, and feelings of fear. My
friend has explained her fear to me, and it is very real. She refuses to go to McDonald’s restaurant for that reason. I mention this to emphasize that successful engagement between patients and clowns does not
apply to everyone.
However, for many long-term
care residents with dementia, elder clowning brings numerous rewards. This
research on elder clowns focused on residents with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s
disease in nursing homes. A pair of elder clowns
visited all residents twice weekly for 12 weeks. They used improvisation,
humor, empathy, and expressive modalities such as songs, musical instruments,
and dance to individualize resident engagement. After measuring outcomes,
researchers determined that elder clowning reduced moderate to severe behavioral
and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) of nursing home
residents primarily with Alzheimer's. Elder clowning
is a promising intervention that may improve Alzheimer's care for
nursing home residents.
This video highlights the
dynamic elder clown program of the Humour Foundation. Elder clowns are highly skilled
professional performers trained by the Humour Foundation to work in aged care
and dementia facilities. Using the healing power of humour, elder clowns aim to improve quality of life by working
in partnership with facility staff and residents:
Frances Shani Parker, Author
Becoming
Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes is available
in paperback and e-book editions in America and other countries at online and
offline booksellers.
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