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Results: Send In The Clowns

Published on 03/14/2016
By: Harriet56
1782
Health & Fitness
1.
1.
A Toronto researcher is putting the old saying "Laughter is the best medicine" to the test with an innovative therapy -- bringing clowns in to help seniors in the grips of dementia. Does someone close to you or you yourself have any form of dementia?
A Toronto researcher is putting the old saying
Myself
4%
64 votes
Someone close to me
19%
346 votes
I know someone, but they're not really close
13%
224 votes
No
51%
907 votes
Not Applicable
15%
266 votes
2.
2.
Toronto Rehab scientist Dr. Pia Kontos has been studying highly-trained therapy clowns, called elder clowns, interact with dementia residents in long-term care homes over a two-year period. "We found that after the residents interacted with the clowns for 12 weeks that there was a significant reduction in their neuro-psychiatric symptoms," Kontos said. The senior researcher found clown therapy was just as effective as medication in bringing down aggression levels in seniors with dementia – and in some cases – patients who were considered non-verbal began reacting or communicating with the clowns in small but significant ways. Do you find this promising?
Definitely, as anything that can help with dementia would be wonderful
43%
775 votes
It's promising, but probably needs more time to see results
35%
626 votes
Don't like this idea at all
19%
342 votes
Other (please specify)
2%
39 votes
Other Answers Percentage Votes
1.07% 19
na 0.45% 8
N/A 0.28% 5
no opinion 0.06% 1
other 0.06% 1
not sure 0.06% 1
don't care 0.06% 1
meh 0.06% 1
no 0.06% 1
Clowns give me the creeps and would give me mental problems. 0.06% 1
3.
3.
Kontos says there are major differences from elder clowns and the ones found in pediatric wards. The clowns used with dementia patients do not have heavily made-up faces, or wear brightly coloured wigs. They have more period make-up (evoking an earlier era) and have less clown-like hairstyles. While pediatric clowns' costuming may be whimsical and bright, elder-clowns are often more subdued in appearance, wearing vintage outfits, evoking memories of the past. Do you think the appearances of these clowns help the dementia patients connect more than traditional clowns?
Kontos says there are major differences from elder clowns and the ones found in pediatric wards. The clowns used with dementia patients do not have heavily made-up faces, or wear brightly coloured wigs. They have more period make-up (evoking an earlier era) and have less clown-like hairstyles. While pediatric clowns' costuming may be whimsical and bright, elder-clowns are often more subdued in appearance, wearing vintage outfits, evoking memories of the past. Do you think the appearances of these clowns help the dementia patients connect more than traditional clowns?
Yes, since most dementia patients are living in the past to begin with
31%
548 votes
No, this may be just a coincidence
8%
136 votes
Yes, but perhaps it just makes them more accessible and less child-like
17%
297 votes
Not sure about this
44%
784 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
17 votes
Other Answers Percentage Votes
0.56% 10
na 0.17% 3
N/A 0.11% 2
Many are still verbal - why not ask them? 0.06% 1
no 0.06% 1
4.
4.
Would you like to have this form of therapy used with you or your loved one who is suffering from dementia?
Yes!
25%
445 votes
Prefer traditional ways of treating it
9%
153 votes
Not sure
33%
595 votes
Does not apply to me
33%
589 votes
COMMENTS