Care home in Horwich celebrates World Laughter Day

Residents and team members at St Catherine’s Care Home in Horwich took to the stage and shared their funniest jokes, stories and impressions to kick off the event ‘Laughter & Sunshine’, which is running in more than 150 Four Seasons care homes across the UK during May.

Some of the activity’s residents can take part in include lughter yoga sessions, listening to local children’s favourite jokes and enjoying performances by visiting comedians and singers.

The homes’ 'Magic Moments co-ordinators' are also putting together happiness handbooks full of residents’ own tips and ideas to bring laughter and sunshine into older life. 

Residents Janet Tait and Michael Allison enjoy a joke together

Home Manager, Gillian Johnson, explained: “After the challenges of the last two years we decided it was time to celebrate the joy of laughter and the benefits it brings.

“Research says that children laugh on average 300 times a day but adults only 17, so we’ve got a lot of catching up to do!

“Sharing fun moments is a great way to connect with each other and laughter increases the release of feel-good endorphins, aids muscle relaxation and stimulates circulation which are all good for health and well-being.”

Residents Janet Tait and Michael Allison enjoy a joke together.

Resident Michael Allison, aged 78, said: “That was great fun! I really didn’t know we had so many jokers living here, I’ve been laughing all afternoon.”

Resident Janet Tait, also aged 78, added: “They say laughter is the best medicine and I couldn’t agree more. Even though some of the jokes were terrible, as soon as other people started to laugh it set me off too!

“A lovely way to forget old age aches and pains, everyone should try and laugh more.”

The home is run by Four Seasons, one of the UK’s largest independent health care providers caring for more than 10,000 people across the UK.