Laughter Care Enters Flinders Medical Centre
Laughter Care Enters Flinders Medical Centre
In South Australia we successfully adapted our Laughter Care program to a hospital environment, supporting patients over 65 years at Flinders Medical Centre. Normally delivered in residential aged care facilities, this ‘hybrid’ format of the program is a first for Clown Doctors Australia – enabling Clown Doctors and Laughter Care performers to visit paediatric wards in the mornings and geriatric wards in the afternoons, utilising their skills in two very different circumstances.
Additionally for Laughter Care, our work in Canberra led to discussions with Carers ACT – a member-based organisation providing support to unpaid carers. After approaching Clown Doctors Australia to provide training for their staff and carers, we delivered our Playfulness in Care workshop, where we shared principles and techniques for those caring for people with dementia at home. Planning is now underway to continue delivering these workshops for carers and staff next year.
