Laughable limericks, ‘theatre sport’ style improvisations and stand up comedy have become common place for a group of BCS Care Centre – Northern Rivers clients living with dementia, who have completed an eight week workshop with local comedian of 20 years, Mandy Nolan.
Mandy has been working with people with dementia for about three years, but this particular program also has a research component.
Mandy’s husband John Stevens is an associate professor at Southern Cross University’s School of Health and Human Sciences and has been looking at the therapeutic benefits that comedy workshops and having a good old laugh can have.
“Mandy would come home and tell me about how people could remember characters they had played from week to week, which is not what you’d expect from people with dementia,” he said.
According to Mandy, the trick to working with people with dementia is improvisation and working in the moment. “I think when you have dementia you spend a lot of your life improvising, because that’s how you survive,” she said.
BCS Community Services Manager Tarnya Daniels reports that the program has successfully involved lots of laughter and role playing between clients, with great feedback from families and carers.
“Due to the ongoing nature of the group, and the interaction between clients and Mandy, trust has been developed and there is a strong sense of fun and enjoyment,” she said.
Research suggests that laughter improves memory, mood, sociability and confidence in people living with dementia.
BCS has also received funding to work alongside Southern Cross University to create a training package for other organisations to deliver the humour therapy program.
Parts of this story were taken from The Northern Rivers Echo, courtesy of Andy Parks.