“You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake,” this joke remains one of the funniest and most memorable of actor Bob Hope.
Sometimes it’s important to laugh, especially when you have the challenging job of a caregiver.
Laughter is like medicine. This is why it’s important to allow yourself to laugh.
Finding humor in caregiving has the potential to ease the tension and boost the mood.
Despite exhausting, tedious and frightening moments, caregivers must find a sense of humor in their work. Hilarious things often happen in residential assisted living that give seniors and caregivers something to laugh about.
Allow yourself to laugh. Assisted living doesn’t have to be dark and depressing, even when caring for seniors with dementia and declining health.
A dose of humor can completely shift the quality of care. A sense of humor will allow you to get through the stressful times ahead without unnecessarily being frustrated and tense. Humor can even make many trying situations pleasant.
Focusing on humor and positivity as much as possible lightens the mood, which improves overall well-being.
HUMOR ENCOURAGES HAPPINESS NOT DISRESPECT
Many caregivers avoid and resist opportunities to laugh out loud because they don’t want to seem disrespectful.
Do you realize that making seniors laugh about their situation in assisted living can actually strengthen their overall well-being? The truth is, a part of being a caregiver is encouraging laughter.
John Donaghue is a caregiver that is becoming quite known for writing the “Under Cardiac Arrest” Cartoons. On his website he creates cartoons that point out the funny things about aging.
Cartoon Examples:
Senior #1: “It says here this product will make you live longer… Guaranteed or your money back!”
Senior #2: “Sounds like a good deal.”
Senior #1: “I can’t find my pulse!”
Senior #2: “When was the last time you used it.”
Senior #1: “I just woke up and I don’t have any aches or pains anywhere?”
Senior #2: “Hang in there! I’m calling 911! Help is on the way!”
Donaghue says he started writing when his dad started wearing a batting helmet in fear of falling. He gained caregiver experience caring for his elderly parents as the only child.
After his dad’s second heart attack, he started the cartoon series “Under Cardiac Arrest”. Seeing the humor helped him to move past the pain and difficulties involved. As a senior, Donaghue now has much more material as he experiences senior living himself.
Ultimately, you’re not laughing at the seniors in residential assisted living, you’re laughing at the irony of aging. We will all experience it, hopefully.
Humor is not about disrespect or humiliation, when done appropriately, it has a way of encouraging happiness and well-being.
LAUGHTER HELPS IN RESIDENTIAL ASSISTED LIVING
Comedians use laughter to help people cope with some of the worst situations in life. Laughter can help seniors cope with the emotions associated with aging and the challenges of being a caregiver.
Age can sometimes be a state of mind – some seniors in assisted living are children at heart. Funny sayings and quotes about aging will help caregivers see the humorous side of things.
12 Funny Quotes About Aging
- “As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two,” said Sir Norman Wisdom.
- “The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age,” said Lucille Ball.
- “There is absolutely nothing to be said in favor of growing old. There ought to be legislation against it,” said Patrick Moore.
- “You know you’re getting old when you can pinch an inch on your forehead,” said John Mendoza.
- “As you get older, the pickings get slimmer, but the people don’t,” said Carrie Fisher.
- “People say that age is just a state of mind. I say it’s more about the state of your body,” said Geoffrey Parfitt.
- “For the first half of your life, people tell you what you should do; for the second half, they tell you what you should have done,” said Richard J. Needham.
- “A stockbroker urged me to buy a stock that would triple its value every year. I told him, ‘At my age, I don’t even buy green bananas,’” said Claude Pepper.
- “I think age is a very high price to pay for maturity” said Tom Stoppard.
- “You know you’re getting old when everything hurts. And what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work,” said Hy Gardner
- “Respect old people. They graduated school without Google or Wikipedia,” said the unknown author.
- “In childhood, we yearn to be grown-ups. In old age, we yearn to be kids. It just seems that all would be wonderful if we didn’t have to celebrate our birthdays in chronological order,” said Robert Brault.
WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULDN’T BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY
This year has been a challenging year, to say the least, and it has taught us that life is serious and must be taken seriously, because it is not guaranteed.
Yet, in the midst of these challenging circumstances, we can still find the humor, and laughing is a wonderful elixir.
The Residential Assisted Living National Association provides all the necessary information investors, owners, operators and caregivers must take seriously for quality senior care.
In addition to group discount rates, national competitive home registry, legal support, newsletters and resourceful blogs, RALNA has its fingertips on the pulse of the industry.
Learn more about securing a free membership at RALNA. Get additional professional tips to empower your residential assisted living home to provide premiere senior care.
This is why the assisted living industry takes the Residential Assisted Living National Association seriously.
