Quality of life or ‘quality moments of life’: considering the impact of relational clowning for people living with dementia

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on a mixed methods project entitled Playful Engagement aimed at improving the quality of life (QoL) of individuals living with dementia through engagement with two relational clowns. Analysis of the quantitative data was unable to identify QoL improvements, whilst the qualitative data revealed positive affective outcomes within individual visits. In light of these outcomes, literature focused on the perceptions of QoL by individuals living with dementia was employed to generate an alternate reading. This alternate reading suggests that while the visits may not have improved the participants’ overall quality of life, they nevertheless generated ‘quality moments of life’ characterised by connectedness, relationships, agency and happiness.

KEYWORDS:

• Dementia
• relational clowns
• quality of life
• applied theatre
• impact

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Julie Dunn is Professor of Drama Education and Applied Theatre at Griffith University. Julie’s research focuses on play and playfulness with participants ranging from children in early childhood programmes to adults living with dementia. Julie also has a keen interest in drama education.

Professor Michael Balfour is Chair of Applied Theatre at Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. His area of research is focused on the social applications of theatre and performance and explores how the arts can respond to contemporary contexts, from working in prisons to understanding the role of theatre in war.

Wendy Moyle is a Professor of Nursing and Program Director in the Menzies Health Institute Queensland at Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. Her research expertise is in the areas of dementia, depression and delirium.

ORCID

Julie Dunn http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2622-5577

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council and Wesley Mission Brisbane (PROJECT ID: LP120100194).