Adults now receive visits from clinic clowns
University Hospital Muenster Expands Clinic-Clown Services to Adult Wards
The University Hospital Muenster (UKM) is set to bring a significant change to its adult wards, as they announce the expansion of Clinic-Clown services. This move is expected to bring a host of benefits for adult patients, including emotional comfort, reduced stress, improved social connection, and an enhanced overall hospital experience.
Clown Doctors, known for their ability to bring moments of joy and playfulness, have been visiting children's wards every Wednesday for years. The success of this initiative has led to the decision to extend these services to adult wards.
The benefits for adult patients can be numerous. Emotional relief is one such benefit, as clown interactions help alleviate anxiety, depressive symptoms, and feelings of isolation common among adult inpatients. Enhanced social connection is another, as patients can experience moments of human connection and laughter, which improve mental health.
The hospital environment can often be intimidating, but playfulness and humor contributed by the Clinic-Clowns may improve patient satisfaction. Moreover, reduced stress levels may positively influence immune function and pain perception.
Although detailed clinical studies at UKM were not found, the general principle that Clown Doctors serve all age groups—from infants to the elderly—by bringing comfort and joy applies, indicating a strong rationale for the expansion.
This aligns with broader healthcare trends recognizing the value of psychosocial support and playfulness for older adults and adults in care settings, considered a therapeutic complement to medical treatment.
Pippo, one of the Clinic-Clowns, with over 30 years of experience in clown work, will be among those visiting adult wards. Adult patients will receive regular visits, approximately once a month.
For many adult patients, the Clinic-Clowns bring a fresh breeze to the hospital routine, brightening their day. The UKM's media release states that these encounters are important for adults as well as children.
The goal of the Clinic-Clowns' visits to adult wards is to remind us that healing is more than just medical treatment and that joy has a place in the hospital as well. The clowns approach people with great care, knocking before entering a patient's room and accepting a 'no'.
With adults, the focus is on respectful interaction rather than the classic clown nose. For those undergoing long-term treatment or facing serious diagnoses, visits from the Clinic-Clowns can be a welcome change.
Clown "Professor Spaghetti" describes the interactions as open and new for many adults. It's important to note that this expansion does not affect the existing activities on the children's wards.
In summary, the expansion of Clinic-Clown services to adult wards at UKM aims to extend proven benefits of reduced stress, improved mood, and enhanced patient experience to adult patients, supporting holistic care through humor and human connection.
Science-driven decision-making at UKM has led to the expansion of Clinic-Clown services, extending to adult wards. The integration of these therapeutic clowns can positively impact health-and-wellness, mental-health, and therapies-and-treatments for adult patients.
