Having a laugh at care home

The fun-loving folk living at Uplands Care Home in Streatham enjoyed a good chuckle by holding their own comedy club to celebrate World Laughter Day.

Residents took to the stage and shared their funniest jokes, stories and impressions to kick-off the event ‘Laughter & Sunshine’, which is running in all 25 Brighterkind care homes across the UK during May.

Some of the activities residents can take part in include laughter yoga sessions, listening to local children’s favourite jokes and enjoying performances by visiting comedians and singers.

Co-ordinators of the project at the homes are also putting together ‘Happiness Handbooks’ full of residents’ own tips and ideas to bring laughter and sunshine into older life.

Top tips include: “Think about the most embarrassing thing that happened to you when you were young and I’m sure you’ll laugh about it now” and “Try singing ‘Bring me sunshine’ and doing the Morecambe and Wise silly walk.”

Ololade Nadi, manager of the home in Leigham Court Road, said: “After the challenges of the last two years we decided it was time to celebrate the joy of laughter and the benefits it brings.

“Research says that children laugh on average 300 times a day but adults only 17, so we’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

Resident Michael Allison, 78, said: “That was great fun. I really didn’t know we had so many jokers living here, I’ve been laughing all afternoon.”

Fellow resident Janet Tait, also 78, added: “They say laughter is the best medicine and I couldn’t agree more.

“Even though some of the jokes were terrible, as soon as other people started to laugh it set me off too”