You have all heard that laughter is the best medicine, and many of you have experienced this truism in your own lives. But, when it comes to dementia, laughter can sometimes get lost along the way. After all, dementia is a serious illness, and, particularly, Alzheimer’s is a terminal illness. What can be funny about these facts? 

Along my journey with my mother, we had many opportunities to laugh, the funniest of which I cannot repeat here!  In fact, my mother laughed more often than before dementia entered her life. I was so glad for this because laughter opened so many doors of insight into my mother and of communication between us.

When my mother was laughing, I felt she was enjoying herself, leaving her disease behind for those few moments as her whole body released into the joy of the moment. When I was laughing at something that happened, I was in a positive place as a caregiver, going with the flow, flexible, reactive. But the best moments were when we were laughing together. Oh, the power of laughter to seal the connection, to imprint the memory, to witness the higher power in our lives.

 Laughter has been found to release chemicals in the brain that block pain, help with diabetes and breast feeding, lower the risk of some chronic diseases – surely laughter can also help you be a better caregiver to your loved one.

As your loved one returns to a place that resembles childhood in many ways, so, too, can you return to your childhood and find the laughter that carried you away. Then, bring this laughter forward into your caregiving situation and let it flow.  Don’t be afraid to show your laughter or to impose conditions on it – dementia will bring you all the material you need to laugh and laugh.

 Disrespectful? I don’t think so. Laughing at and with your loved one, and the one-of-a-kind situations you find yourself facing, is a very respectful way to honor the journey. It shows that your loved one can still relate to you.  It shows that you can express your joy, fear, and love in a safe and thoughtful manner and be a better caregiver. And remember, laughing is good for your brain, too! So, let ‘er rip!