The Healing Power of Humor and Laughter

An important way of promoting health and well-being for the residents, visitors, and staff in long term care facilities is to learn some positive ways to use humor to stimulate laughter. Laughter has distinct effects on the body, mind, and spirit. Used appropriately, humor can relieve the stress of a situation, help people cope with a difficult situation, help people bond with others, or be used as protection from a painful situation.

What is humor?

Webster's defines humor as "the ability to perceive, appreciate, or express what is funny or amusing." People are often referred to as "having a good sense of humor" if they can make others laugh, find the comical side of an otherwise serious situation, or laugh at themselves.

Laughter's Effects on the Body, Mind, and Spirit

• raises heart and breathing rates during laughter and then lowers them after
• helps to move secretions from the lungs
• increases peripheral blood flow (to the extremities) due to vasodilation
• increases activity of the diaphragm, abdominal, respiratory, facial, and other muscles
• enhances immunity which offers protection from infection
• decreases stress hormones
• increases pain tolerance
• boosts metabolism
• promotes relaxation
• increases activity in the right hemisphere of the brain which stimulates abstract and creative thinking
• relieves anxiety and tension
• heightens feelings of self-control and empowerment
• puts problems into perspective
• increases sense of joy and optimism
• encourages hope
• fosters closeness between people

Humor can help people cope with difficult situations, relieve the stress of serious situations, bond with others, and protect themselves from painful situations. Residents, families, and staff in nursing homes are often surrounded by serious and complicated situations on a daily basis. By looking for opportunities for laughter and joy, Social Services and other members of the interdisciplinary team can create an environment that is pleasant and upbeat. This in turn promotes the health and well-being of the residents, families, and staff.

Studies have shown that laughter has many positive effects on the body. It can help control pain, relieve tension, lower blood pressure, and boost the immune system. Studies also validate the theory that there are also emotional and spiritual benefits connected with laughter.

In his book, Anatomy of an Illness, Norman Cousins wrote about the benefits he derived from periods of laughter during his hospitalization for the pain he was suffering because of an inflammatory disease. He believed that positive emotions could benefit him, so he began watching reruns of Candid Camera as well as other old comedies. He also asked visitors to read jokes and other humorous stories to him as part of their time with him.

He found that just ten minutes of hearty laughter brought him two hours of pain-free rest. This fact was confirmed by positive changes in his blood tests taken after one of his "laughter sessions." When he published these results in his book, the medical community began to take notice and pay attention to the therapeutic value of humor and laughter.

Psychological Benefits

Humor is an essential element in a person's psychological well-being. Research has demonstrated that humor can be used as an effective coping mechanism. Humor enables a person to look at a problem from a different point of view, make it seem less serious, and realize opportunities for increased objectivity and insight.

In a three-month study of the use of humor in a nursing home, residents participated in several humor activities. At the end of the study, researchers discovered that the residents had a more optimistic attitude, socialized more with each other, were more mentally alert, and became more involved in the life of the facility. The use of humor helped improve their outlook and self-esteem.

Physiological Benefits

Research over the last half of the twentieth century shows that laughter also has many physiological benefits. Laughter causes muscles in the face, neck, shoulders, and abdomen to be activated. Engaging in laughter can provide excellent muscle stimulation for residents, especially those in wheelchair chairs or confined to bed.

There are also cardiac and circulatory benefits. After a good round of laughter, a person's heart rate drops and their blood pressure is lowered. This may help lower risk of heart attacks. Laughter also improves blood circulation that in turn improves the movement of oxygen through the body. This increased circulation may make the body's immune system more effective and prevent the formation of blood clots.

Laughter releases endorphins, a natural body chemical that creates feelings of pleasure and produces a pain-relieving effect similar to morphine. Studies have shown that residents participating in humor groups on a regular basis make fewer requests for pain medication.

Appropriate Versus Inappropriate Humor

Humor that "pokes fun" at someone else in a derogatory way and causes uncomfortable or hurt feelings is negative and insensitive. This type of humor is inappropriate and should be avoided. Examples include statements that are:

• sexist
• make fun of a person's ethnicity, race, disability, or religion
• belittles, ridicules, or puts a person down
• causes embarrassment
• crude or in poor taste
• exposes something that a person wishes to keep private

Facts to Keep in Mind

• Persons with dementia and other cognitive impairments may be unable to understand jokes and riddles, Likewise, they may misinterpret funny props, such as clown noses or talking flowers. Assess each resident's reaction to humor and use strategies that seem to work best.
• Some people may use laughter and humor to cover up declines in mental function.
• People who are anxious or depressed may not respond to humor. Note the lack of response to humor and explore the causes.
• There is a difference between healthy humor and cutting sarcasm. Be sure to avoid humor that belittles or hurts someone.
• Although it is useful to encourage an optimistic outlook, don't use humor to avoid confronting feelings. Listen when residents want to express feelings and refer them for counseling if you feel they have emotional needs that you cannot meet.

Importance of Staff Attitudes

Nursing homes are places where persons with many physical, mental, and emotional challenges live. Often people view this environment as a place for serious treatment of these disabilities. Caregivers get so caught up in caring for these numerous problems that they take on a very serious persona and fail to look for a more humorous and personal side to their caregiving. They may link laughter with frivolity and childishness. There may even be a underlying fear that the use of humor will encroach on their image of "professionalism."

Staff sometimes forgets that they can use humor to their advantage for improving the residents' quality of life and maintaining the facility's integrity. Sharing humor with a resident is a tangible sign of respect and caring. This affirmation often leads to the resident feeling more comfortable with the caregiver and being more cooperative.

Residents often look to the staff as models for their own behaviors. When a caregiver sees and communicates humor in their daily activities, the residents will be more able to appreciate it and incorporate it into their daily interactions with others. Residents are no different than staff, in their desire to live in a happy environment surrounded by upbeat people.

Social Services plays an important role in the lives of the residents and their families. By helping them see the lighter side of a situation, you can help them cope better, provide more positive interactions, and create a more caring environment. Humor can also help lighten your workload and make your workday more enjoyable.