Have you had a really good laugh with your senior loved one today? Embracing joy and laughter, even in the face of struggle, is exceptionally beneficial to mental and physical health. In fact, laughter is an inexpensive, accessible, and efficient healing technique with profound psychological and physiological benefits.
Laughter increases the endorphins released by the brain, reduces the stress response, and eases tension, according to the Mayo Clinic. The practice offers long-term health effects as well, boosting the immune system and even alleviating pain. Experts even believe that humor and happiness play a vital role in achieving longevity. It positively influences afflictions, including high blood pressure, flu, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes, while also battling inflammation, which affects many age-related health conditions such as arthritis and cancer.
Did You Know? Laughing burns calories!
Laughter Helps the Caregiver
Caregiving isn’t always easy, particularly when you’re caring for someone who is in great pain, experiencing memory loss, or seems to be in a perpetual bad mood. Seeking moments of levity in the midst of overwhelming situations can prove to be an invaluable strategy. While some people are afraid of offending their loved ones by laughing, connecting over an unexpected, awkward, or amusing scenario can be healthy and create a stronger bond. A caregiver’s ability to maintain a positive outlook can be reassuring to aging loved ones – and laughter can diffuse otherwise difficult or heavy moments.
Caregivers can infuse laughter into their loved ones’ lives by telling jokes, sharing stories, or watching routines from their favorite comedians from days gone by. Caregivers and patients alike need a break from the serious nature of aging, illness, depression, or pain – and a good laugh is an excellent solution. There are many everyday methods for family or professional caregivers to inject more carefree laughter into the lives of their loved ones—even the ones who are committed to being grumpy.
Laughter is good for the patient, but caregivers also benefit when they can identify the humor in their own situation. Laughing can be the most effective way to ease tension, diffuse a challenging conversation, or reverse a negative perspective. Researchers from the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Zurich documented that people who could see the humor in their own lives had happier and more generous personalities and positive outlooks on life. If you are a caregiver trying to cope with anxiety or sadness, laughter can help ease the emotional stress.
Laughter Connects People
Those individuals trying to find ways to communicate with loved ones, even those with dementia, often find laughter to be the answer. Offering a ready smile and a sense of humor to senior loved ones, medical professionals, and other caregivers makes us feel better and more capable of effectively navigating the challenges of caregiver responsibilities.
Whether a senior is living in an assisted living or memory care facility or has chosen to age in place, integrating a little lighthearted laughter into day-to-day activities will go a long way toward alleviating stress, enhancing health results, and fortifying those important connections that keep us going.
At A Banyan Residence, we understand the importance of allowing our residents to continue to experience life – from joy and laughter to fulfillment and a sense of purpose. Our staff works to provide a lifestyle full of connections and activities meant to keep our seniors engaged and living active lives. If you are looking for a positive place for your loved one to live their next stage of life, we invite you to visit our Venice campus.
