Employing Humor & Pursuing Laughter

Receiving a dementia diagnosis is a life-altering event, and as the disease progresses, there are any number of valid things that get a caregiver and care-receiver down-in-the-dumps or red with rage. Fortunately, employing humor in everyday interactions can lessen the impact of negative emotions for individuals with dementia and their carers – and completely turn the day around. Even though humor doesn’t solve the daily challenges and problems, it does lighten the emotional load and usually makes individuals with dementia feel included, seen, and safe.

Brigette, a caregiver to her mother living with dementia, confessed to the bitterness and negativity she initially felt in their journey. Then, with a switch in mindset, she began noticing the things that could make her laugh during the day. Sometimes it took the form of a funny comment from her or her mom; other times, it manifested in the morning tickling and poking sessions. Regardless of the action or event igniting the laughs, it positively altered Brigette’s approach to caregiving and made their quality of life that much better.

Some care programs and caregivers have gone the extra mile by hiring comedians to brighten the days of dementia patients. In one instance, Dani sought out comedian Sue to talk and laugh with her mother Muriel, who was progressing in her journey with Alzheimer’s Disease. Dani witnessed a shocking turn-around in Muriel’s responsiveness and participation in her care home activities as a result of Sue’s funny quips and joking manner.

After seeing this positive effect of humor and laughing first-hand, Dani began a company called Laughter on Call, which connects people with dementia with professional comedians. She noted how powerful humor was in reducing agitation, stress, and apathy while increasing the release of endorphins. It’s almost a medicine in and of itself, one that soothes care-receivers and carers alike.

Explore these accounts more at Guest Post: Laughing with dementia, Using Humor to Combat Dementia, and When Dementia Is a Laughing Matter.