Ch’ti Clown

Organisation: Ch’ti Clown

Supported Project: Ageing well with clowns in palliative care

The Ch’ti Clown organisation has been working for over 15 years to put people back at the heart of care, supporting the most vulnerable members of society in hospitals, care homes and residential settings. Through the work of clowns trained in palliative care, the association strives to improve the emotional, relational and social well-being of dependent elderly people, whilst supporting care teams and relatives.

Our Foundation is delighted to support one of their projects, ‘Ageing well with clowns in supportive care’.

What does the project involve?

This project involves the introduction of regular visits by clowns specialising in supportive care to elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive disorders at the Les Provinces du Nord care home.

Through an approach based on compassionate improvisation, active listening and respect for individuality, the clowns will work directly with residents, closely attuned to their daily lives. Each encounter will be designed as a special moment, encouraging the expression of emotions, non-verbal communication and reconnection with others.

The project will also be aimed at carers (both professional and family members) by offering specific workshops designed to provide them with appropriate interpersonal skills to facilitate communication with elderly people in need of care.

An approach integrated into the care home’s care plan

The sessions will be conducted in close collaboration with the care teams and will be fully integrated into the care home’s care plan. The clowns will work across different departments, as part of a holistic, non-medicinal care approach.

Written reports, produced after each session, will be shared with the teams to provide a complementary perspective on the residents and to inform professional practice.

Expected outcomes

To promote the emotional well-being of elderly people in care, particularly those with cognitive impairments.

Combat social isolation and the breakdown of social ties associated with old age, illness or disability.

Maintain and restore appropriate forms of communication, even when verbal language is impaired.

Support carers, both professional and family members, by providing them with practical relational tools.

Bring a positive dynamic to care teams and help improve quality of life at work.