“I made you a small room in my heart”: how therapeutic clowns meet the needs of older adults in nursing homes

Therapeutic clowns are increasingly common in nursing homes, where residents often encounter factors that can undermine their quality of life and dignity. We aimed to understand the strategies of successful therapeutic clowning with a diverse older adult population, and the unique contributions of elder-clowning to the nursing home experience. Using an interpretivist descriptive methodology, twenty-three (n=23) experienced therapeutic clowns from eight countries were interviewed to understand the needs of nursing home residents met by elder-clowns, and strategies and techniques the clowns use to address them. Participants identified five major needs: to escape routine; for reassurance of worth; for meaningful, personalized social interaction unrestricted by communication barriers; to have culturally meaningful opportunities for reminiscence; and to have a space where residents could be unapologetically themselves. The artistic and emotional strategies used by the therapeutic clowns to address these needs illustrate how creativity, imagination and relational presence can provide nursing home residents with a sense of being known and belonging. Elder-clowns also positively affect the nursing home staff and enrich the interpersonal interactions in the residence. Through their focus on the social and emotional needs of residents, elder-clowns can play an important and distinct role in creating an optimal nursing home experience.