Clown Care

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clowns on a stamp

Clown Care is a program in hospitals and medical centers, done by special clowns. They are called also called "Clown Doctors" which is a trade marked name in some countries. These visits to hospitals have been shown to help healing patients and sick persons with the positive power of hope and humor. There is also a positive benefit to the staff and families of patients.

Professional Clown Doctors began working in hospitals in 1986 under a program called the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit, which was started by Michael Christensen in New York City. Clown Doctor programs now operate in every state in Australia, the USA, Canada, Israel, and all over Europe.

Clown Doctors attend to the psycho-social needs of the hospitalised child especially, but also adults in some hospitals. They parody the hospital routine to help children adapt to hospital or distract children during painful or frightening procedures. The atmosphere of fun and laughter can help children forget for a moment the illness and the stress. The Clown Doctors use their skills such as magic, balloon sculpting, music, storytelling and other clowning skills to treat children with doses of fun to help them deal with the range of emotions they may experience while in hospital: fear, anxiety, loneliness, boredom.

The healing power of humor and laughter combats stress, reduces pain by releasing endorphins the body's natural painkiller, boosts the immune system by increasing the level of T cells & lowering serum cortisol levels, helps promote a positive outlook helps people cope with difficult situations and creates bonds, and therefore support between people which helps in the healing process.