CLOWNS, PUPPETS REDUCE NURSING HOME IRRITABILITY

CLOWNS, PUPPETS REDUCE NURSING HOME IRRITABILITY

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Wireless Flash) -- Nursing homes may soon look like nursery schools if researchers are correct. According to a new study conducted by nursing professor Nancy Watson of the University of Rochester, clowns and puppets are effective tools for improving the condition of dementia patients. Watson came to her findings after holding "humor therapy" sessions in which nursing home patients were visited by clowns, played with puppets or watched a wind-up chicken toy clack about. The results? 41 percent of patients exposed to the nutty nonsense were less aggressive after the session, while 35 percent of the patients were less irritable. Watson is now encouraging nursing homes to try the comedy technique with their dementia patients, and she's even produced a "how to" video showing nurses the proper way to use puppets, clowns and wind-up toys.