The management and Lifestyle Team at Illawarra Diggers Aged and Community Care in Corrimal, take this role very seriously.

 So, it’s no laughing matter - well actually it can be.

Recent research has shown a combination of laughter and exercise improves older people’s mental health, while also boosting their physical stamina and motivation.

The research also established that laughter is such a powerful force, it can even bring a sense of beauty and wonder back to those suffering from dementia.

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Illawarra Diggers CEO Peter Whittall said the fundamental premise of lifestyle services was to give residents the means by which to live a happy and contented life while living in residential aged care.

“Important aspects of lifestyle include supporting a resident’s independence, freedom of choice, privacy and dignity as well as quality of life,” he said.

“The therapeutic fundamentals of lifestyle are to include physical, emotional, social, cognitive, cultural and sensory elements to our programs to ensure all of these areas are catered for as best as possible for each resident.”

The Lifestyle Team at Illawarra Diggers drives the lifestyle philosophy of the organisation by encouraging resident input to programs and events, as well as using evidence-based practice for therapeutic programming. 

Illawarra Diggers Lifestyle Team manager Joanna Limpic said the focus was on the residents’ needs to assist them with living their lives to the fullest.

“Also keeping people active, socially connected and involved is what is important as well,” she said.

Ms Limpic said Illawarra Diggers proudly offered a great selection of activities to keep the residents’ minds and bodies active and engaged as part of its lifestyle program.

“We encourage outings for residents on a regular basis and we have our own minibus that allows our residents to visit shopping centres, parks and other outdoor locations for their enjoyment.”

A recent Australian study has found that ‘humour therapy’ reduces agitation and increases happiness in people suffering from dementia in aged care facilities.

They found that humour increased mental wellness by decreasing agitation by 20 per cent, which was equivalent to the reduction seen by taking many popular anti- psychotic medications.

Research has also shown that therapeutic laughter can help prevent the decline of cognitive faculties, isolation, physical illness, physical immobility, stress and depression in seniors.

La Trobe University researchers in Victoria recently set out to assess the effects of laughter therapy, which combines deep breathing, clapping and chuckling, on a group of people living in aged care homes.

“A growing body of evidence indicates the health benefits of laughter,” researchers wrote in the Australasian Journal of Ageing.

“These include reducing stress, blood pressure and stress hormones, increasing muscle flexion and triggering the release of endorphins - the body’s natural painkilling chemicals that produce a general sense of wellbeing.”

The Illawarra Diggers Aged and Community Care residence in Wollongong’s northern suburbs provides quality care and accommodation for the aged community.

If you are looking for an aged care facility for yourself or your loved one, please call 4225 4700 or visit illawarradiggers.com.au