Nursing Home Clowning

Jamdealie · #1 (**permalink**) 08-08-2007, 11:20 AM

Hi everyone,
I am writing a paper on the therapeutic benefits of one-on-one clowning visits within facilities such as nursing homes.

My clown character visits a specified list of residents once a month at a nursing home near me. Not only am I tracking my observations, but the staff at the nursing home is also doing so.

Would I would like from all of you that have experienced clowning within nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or any facility type that houses the elderly, is to contact me with your personal experiences.

My hope is to find someone that would then be interested in funding a bonafide pilot study focused on the elderly, particularly those that have been diagnosed with depression, have self-isolated themselves, and/or have no family/friends that visit.

These types of visits are vastly different from hospital clowning for a number of reasons.

If you'd like to share your real life experiences of how your clown character has interacted with the elder population residing in a facility (good and even 'not so good' outcomes) please let me know how I should connect with you so that I may interview you for this paper.

To see the initial idea started with one nursing home, read http://www.clownsentertain.com/therapy.html

Thanks!

Fitzwilly · #2 (**permalink**) 08-08-2007, 10:32 PM

You really should contact Patty Wooten and Shobhana Schwekbe (ShobiDobi@aol.com). These two ladies have a tremendous amount of knowledge in the area of therapeutic clowning. There is also AATH (American Association for Therapeutic Humor).

Jamdealie · #3 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 06:44 AM

Thanks! I just sent her a note.

Mindy · #4 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 12:02 PM

I've been visiting two nursing homes for about 3 years. I visit every Wednesday morning. The patients know me and look forward to my visits. Several want me to sit and visit for a short time. Others welcome my hugs. I ALWAYS give them a sticker. There is a 11x18" "Poster" for each patient in their room. They either take their sticker off their clothes in the evening and put it on the poster or I put the sticker on the poster instead of on them. IF I should forget my stickers, they remind me that I'm supposed to have them. I enjoy my visits as much as they do....I think!
Mindy the Clown

dee · #5 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 02:56 PM

You might wanna contact Dr Patch Adams. A Living Legend. Clown doctor.

Code:

http://www.patchadams.org/speakers/bio-patch_adams.html

Jamdealie · #6 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 03:19 AM

Hi Mindy,
Is there one person in particular that has responded positvely to your clowning visits? In what way? I'm looking for a particualr examples of responses.

For an example of what I mean: One of the people on my list to visit is an 85 year old man with dementia that rarely speaks. The staff warned me that he would most likely not even make eye contact with me. As soon as I walked in to his room and starting speaking he looked up. When he saw Jamdealie, his whole face lit up and, my what a smile. He laughed at my magic and juggling and commented on the make-up and then began to tell me about his days in the circus. He said his name was Soda Pop and that he'd performed professionally for years, but couldn't remember the name of the circus.

Since my first visit, the staff has been thrilled with his response. He's still not a happy camper 100% of the time (who is?) but all they have to do is remind him of when my next visit is scheduled for and his complete persona changes. And most importantly, now that everyone there knows that he was once a clown, and that this was an important part of his being, they have found common ground with him. He may not want to talk about current events, but he will socialize if he gets to talk about the circus.

That's just one tiny example but this is the kind of thing I'm looking for. Thanks!

Jamdealie · #7 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 03:22 AM

Hi,
I know about Patch and his Institute. In fact, was hoping (once I get more data collected) that his organization may actually want to fund the pilot study. Are you friendly enough with these folks to extend an introduction between me and the folks there?

Fitzwilly · #8 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 09:40 PM

You should also contact Annette Darragh with Clowns Care Inc. www.clownscareinc.org For years she has trained clowns for hospital work in the Birmingham, AL area. A great lady.
Also have you researched the Big Apple Circus? And there is a third program that is very reputable but I don't remember the name or contact info right now.

Jamdealie · #9 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007, 07:01 AM

Thanks! I'll get in touch with her early next week!

Mindy · #10 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 11:09 AM

I can't think of one particular response. ALL of the patients respond positively to me. I do not do magic when I'm there. I simply sit down and visit. Sometimes they tell me about their past lives and I can tell they are reliving their youth. Sometimes they need a shoulder to cry on. Whatever their need on that particular day....I try to fill it.