| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (25 min. 45 sec.) ; 155160011 bytes |
| Summary |
Compass, ABC1's popular Sunday night Religion and Ethics documentary program, presented by Geraldine Doogue is back this March at the earlier time of 6.30pm on Sunday, just ahead of the 7pm news.In the first program back for the year, The Smile Within, comedian Jean-Paul Bell proves laughter is the best medicine after all as he brings joy and new life to dementia patients in Australian aged care homes.Jean-Paul is part of a groundbreaking 'Humour Therapy Project' aimed at improving the quality of life for elderly Australians suffering with loss of memory and speech, and declining well-being. He calls himself a 'humour valet' and visits patients in nursing homes in Sydney where he's changed the lives of thousands of people, bringing humour into sometimes very difficult circumstances. Jean-Paul's work is part of the world's first large scale research project into the effects of humour therapy on older people with dementia. And with Australia experiencing a rapidly growing ageing population - in the next 40 years the number of people over 85 is expected to quadruple from 0.4 to 1.8 million - it's more than a laughing matter. It's about quality of life for our elderly.PRODUCTION DETAILS:Compass Executive Producer: Rose Hesp; Executive Producer / Producer: Maggie Haertsch; Producer / Director: Chantal Abouchar |
| Event |
Broadcast 2012-03-04 at 18:30:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: G |
| Subject |
Dementia -- Patients.
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Laughter -- Psychological aspects.
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Laughter -- Therapeutic use.
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Older people -- Care.
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Australia.
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New South Wales -- Sydney.
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| Form |
Streaming video
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| Author |
Doogue, Geraldine, host
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Bell, Jean-Paul, contributor
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Brodaty, Henry, contributor
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Fagan, Margaret, contributor
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Hornery, Mavis, contributor
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Low, Lee-Fay, contributor
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Teaupa, Kathleen, contributor
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