Care clowns spreading mission to Shelburne

The Care Clowns have been bouncing strong in Yarmouth and Digby for three years now and plan to spread their mission to make people smile into Shelburne County beginning this fall. “Our aim is to raise the spirits of the patients and their families as well as the staff,” says Coordinator/trainer and volunteer care clown Marie Atkinson otherwise known as Polka Dottie.

Clown Care is a program in hospitals and medical centers involving visits from specially trained clowns that is attended to assist in improving the quality of life for patients, families and health care professionals.

Care Clowns receive palliative care training and learn what kind of humour is appropriate in a hospital setting. “We always ask if we can visit first,” says Atkinson, “and we go in pairs so there is no pressure to the patient to say anything.”

There have been 16 Care Clowns trained all together but Atkinson hopes there will be some volunteers from the Shelburne area to train.

Care Clowns use techniques such as bubbles, storytelling and humour to help patients deal with possible emotions such as fear, loneliness and boredom.

According to research, humor and laughter combats stress, reduces pain by releasing endorphins, boosts the immune system by increasing the level of T cell and helps promote a positive outlook. “When you walk in a room and there’s an elderly person there and you blow bubbles over their bed and see their frail hand reach up to grab the bubbles,” explains Atkinson, “it makes them forget momentarily of why they are there…it’s really very special.”

Contact Yarmouth Regional Hospital for information on how to become a Care Clown in Shelburne County.