Laughter, Relaxation, and resilience: Support for Dementia Caregivers in Rielasingen-Worblingen
Rielasingen-Worblingen – Fifty-two family members caring for loved ones with dementia gathered at the St. Verena care center,invited by the Singen/Hegau Dementia Action Alliance,for an afternoon focused on self-care and coping strategies. The workshop incorporated laughter yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, and explored the power of humor in navigating the challenges of dementia care.
Humor and nursing educator Hans-Georg lauer led a session emphasizing the importance of finding humor in daily life and cultivating a positive outlook. He illustrated how a playful perspective can be a powerful tool in facing difficult circumstances, stating, “Humour is a defiance, a power of defiance – and can be trained and cultivated.” Participants even experimented with the impact of a simple red clown nose, noting a shift in perception.
The benefits of laughter were further explored with Christina Möhrle, a laughter yoga teacher, who explained the physiological effects of laughter – releasing endorphins, improving circulation, and fostering positive thinking. Attendees actively participated in laughter exercises, experiencing firsthand the positive atmosphere it creates.”With the help of practical exercises, those present were able to experience the beneficial effects of laughter for themselves,” noted Gabi Glocker from the senior citizens’ office. Marco Sicken, a social work student, added, “This may seem a bit strange at first, but it actually creates a good feeling.”
Complementing the focus on emotional wellbeing, Andrea Oppermann presented on progressive muscle relaxation, detailing the body’s natural cycles of action, mobilization, and regeneration. The theory was instantly put into practice with a guided exercise, with full participation from all 52 attendees.
Gabi Glocker, representing the Dementia Action Alliance, expressed strong satisfaction with the event. “A very accomplished afternoon for the relatives, but also for the Aktionsbündnis Dementia Singen/Hegau, where the relatives of people with dementia were able to laugh a lot and simultaneously occurring take home a large kit of methods for mindfulness and self-care.”
For those interested in learning more about the connection between humor and dementia, resources are available at: https://zeller-projekte.de/humor-und-demenz/
