Time for a smile: Medical clown one-on-one visits in a residential home

This qualitative, phenomenological study evaluates the benefits of medical clown home visits to older adults of sound mind, in contrast to studies focusing on older adults with cognitive disorders. Data were collected through observing twenty residents, aged 75 to 101, in private apartments at an Israeli residential home and fifteen semi-structured interviews. The social worker and medical clown were also interviewed. The clown's visits, in the presence of the social worker, provided residents with opportunities to loosen up and engage in play within their own living spaces. Each encounter, characterized by humor, respect, and compassion, was tailored individually to each resident, fostering an environment where enjoyment was expressed. This approach led to heightened self-esteem, reduced loneliness, and an overall enhancement in the quality of life for participants. The study concludes with implications for social workers to use medical clowning as an additional tool in their practice.