THE ADAGE laughter is the best medicine was revealed as true at Tabeel’s Laughter Boss Workshop on 4 November.

The fun 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.

Clown therapy started in paediatric wards in large urban centres and has expanded to a wide 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 around 30 Lutheran Community Care and Tabeel 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 experiential workshop empowered everyone.

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

“We have two laughter clowns, Christina Seaton-Thomson and Tonia Cameron, who regularly 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.”

Dr Spitzer said evidence of this could be seen when the workshop participants presented resident and former Mayor of Laidley Shirley Pitt  celebrating her birthday with a cake.

“It blew her away and it was a window into her past, no one felt uncomfortable and there was a lot of laughs opening communication and trust,” he said.  

Tabeel Clinical Nurse Consultant Christina Seaton-Thomson started clowning around at the service 18 months ago after attending a conference in Sydney with Dr Spitzer.

“I dressed up as a clown and Lisa Leah [dressed] as a fairy to lighten up the atmosphere at Tabeel,” she said.

Christina said the full day workshop was laughter boss training adapted specifically for aged care services.

“It gives people tools and ideas that they are comfortable to work with so they can adapt the techniques into their work routine,” she said.

“The residents love it. They laugh and it’s something they’re not expecting but it always makes a difference and brings a smile to their face — it’s also therapeutic to the staff.”

Participants came prepared to the workshop and stepped out of their comfort zone wearing something outrageous for the best costume award and they all left as fully certified laughter bosses.

Dr Spitzer’s SMILE study of 36 residential aged care facilities found humour therapy decreased agitation by 20 per cent which was comparable to the use of antipsychotic drugs.

Dr Spitzer said recent research 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,” he said.

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