Background: Humor therapy is a non-pharmacological intervention with potential to improve mood and quality of life for institutionalized older persons, including those with dementia. The primary aims of the Sydney Multisite Intervention of LaughterBosses and ElderClowns (SMILE) are to examine the effects of humor therapy on residents’ mood, quality of life, social engagement, and agitation.; […]
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of humor therapy assessed using observational methods on agitation, engagement, positive behaviors, affect, and contentment. DESIGN: Single-blind cluster randomized controlled trial. SETTING: A total of 35 Sydney nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: All eligible residents within geographically defined areas within each nursing home were invited to participate. INTERVENTION: Professional “ElderClowns” provided 9 […]
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether humour therapy reduces depression (primary outcome), agitation and behavioural disturbances and improves social engagement and quality-of-life in nursing home residents. DESIGN: The Sydney Multisite Intervention of LaughterBosses and ElderClowns study was a single-blind cluster randomised controlled trial of humour therapy. SETTING: 35 Sydney nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: All eligible residents within geographically […]