LAUGHING HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE US FEEL BETTER
Quality Now offers solutions through laughter to reduce caregiver burnout and benefit the emotional needs of the Alzheimer’s patient
Let’s say it out loud, some of what your loved one does or says is just funny!! I have my own hilarious stories of things my mom would say and do. There were times that I seriously laughed until I cried, and kept laughing every time I thought of it or when I told my brothers. The time that my daughter and myself took my mom to a nephrologist because I was convinced her condition was due to renal failure, mom was hilarious answering questions. The nephrologist in his very serious tone was asking my mom what she ate for breakfast that day, as mom searched for her words, she loudly and confidently said ”SHIT”, My daughter and I were incredibly inappropriate and laughed out loud and could barely get through the appointment being serious. I have story after story like this and there were many times that mom would laugh with me because it was so contagious.
You have heard that laughter is the best medicine. According to Perspectives, behavioral health management, laughter is a powerful antidote to stress pain, and conflict. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused and alert.
A study by researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine recruited patients with Parkinson’s disease to participate in a 12 week course operated by the The Second City. After the study, all but one patient participating showed significant improvement in activities of daily living. Laughter can prove to be well worth a try.
Don’t feel bad laughing to yourself, with your family or with your friends when describing funny situations with your loved one. We are human and so is our loved one. They would most likely laugh too if they were aware of what they said or did.
