Senior Living Residents Laugh More!

“Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone” is a well-known proverb, and the phrase originates from the poem "Solitude" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. The point is that laughter and a merry heart attract companions.

People who feel lonely and discouraged are invariably lifted up by the laugh of a dog or other therapy animal (OK, the wag of the tail; it’s their way of laughing).

Staying healthy isn’t just about watching your diet and getting some exercise; wellness includes pursuing and enriching human relationships with joy, humor, and acceptance.

The lifestyle at Heather Glen Senior Living includes physical, social, spiritual, emotional, occupational, and intellectual wellness. The team at Heather Glen is focused on providing the utmost quality care to promote a more active and healthier style of living in our community, as well as well-balanced meals.

The social and mental health benefits of laughter

The best aspect of laughter as a therapy is that it’s free! It costs nothing to laugh, and the mental and physical benefits are surprisingly powerful.

Mental health benefits of laughter

One reason senior community residents seem to feel more free to laugh is that seniors have learned to shed most of their inhibitions and don’t take themselves too seriously.

As comedian Red Skelton said, “No matter what your heartache may be, laughing helps you forget it for a few seconds.”

Laughter can alleviate stress by decreasing the hormones that can lead to depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Being involved with people and events that make us laugh, like funny movies and parties, helps take our minds off things that trouble us. It’s like a vacation for the soul.

Actually, laughter is more like chocolate for the soul! The act of laughing, whether it’s at a friend’s joke or a funny cat video, reverses the body’s stress response by releasing feel-good hormones—the same ones that kick in when falling in love, eating chocolate, and petting your pet!

Beyond feeling good, shared laughter and joy have been shown to improve social skills and communication, enhance memory, creative thinking, socialization, and hopefulness.

Physical benefits of laughter

From a smile to a hearty belly laugh, this involuntary response to humor can have a positive impact on your body.

According to Mayo Clinic expert and oncologist Edward T. Creagan, M.D., “A hearty laugh may decrease blood pressure, help regulate heart rhythm, and just provide an element of joy, that elusive factor in well-being.”

To once again share the wisdom of Red Skelton, “No matter how old you get, never lose your sense of humor. It's what keeps you young at heart.” Research has shown that optimists, people who “keep on the sunny side of life,” generally live longer than those who focus on the shadows. Once again, a sense of community, which results in connectedness and a sense of purpose, results in a brighter outlook and a potentially longer and healthier life.

Heather Glen Senior Living provides a full slate of opportunities for residents to participate in exciting programs and activities, both at Heather Glen and out in the community.

How to add more laughter to your life

Healthy humor is inclusive and even infectious; it’s something to be shared. After all, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people” (Red again). Sometimes, it just means releasing some inhibitions and allowing yourself to laugh in public!

Finding smiles and humor can be as simple as asking a person about something that makes them feel good, such as a pet, a grandchild, an act of kindness, or an embarrassing event that they don’t mind sharing (Lead with one of your own first!).

Look for vintage or modern radio and TV shows, movies, or magazines that you remember or have heard about that can take you into a lighter world, if even for a few minutes or hours.

Hang with people who are optimists or even maybe a little silly. The team at Heather Glen Senior Living works hard to create a fun, inclusive, hopeful atmosphere for everyone!

If you’re interested in learning more about life at Heather Glen Senior Living in our personal or memory care community, or would like to see our community for yourself, give us a call at (610) 841-4478 or fill out our online form today.